We 'Ghana' Win The World Cup

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After all the hype the FIFA World Cup finally kicks-off today in Germany. From today till July 9 billions of football enthusiasts would be treated to the best of football.

The experts and most fans believe Brazil is in for their sixth title. A computer says Czechs will win the title for the first time. A catholic priest in Buenos Aires claims to have seen a vision where Argentina lifted the cup. An Irishman has put ?5000 on England. A German astrologer, having studied the position of the stars, believes the cup is for the hosts. A Togolese ?jujuman? professes Togo will reach the second round. In a BBC documentary, a Rastafarian predicted the trophy is for Trinidad & Tobago, although they've lost all their world cup friendlies.

The strangest of all the prediction was from a man in Lagos. When asked for his predication he said ?This is the year for Naija (Nigeria)?. On being reminded, Nigeria did not qualify he shouted back ?..and so what??

Previous World Cup made prognosticators look like fools. At the risk of further embarrassment, we predict: "We Ghana win the world cup". (read: We Gonna win the world cup)

Ghana?s captain Stephen Appiah said "We're not here to win the World Cup but we're here to make our mark".

He has to be realistic, we don?t.

Back to Reality

Ghana may be lining up at their first-ever World Cup next summer in Germany, but those who expect them to be blushing debutants might well be in for a big surprise.

For years, Ghana have been regarded as some of the most talented purveyors of the beautiful game on the African continent. With scores of players from Ghana exported to European shores, the nation is a close third to Nigeria and Cameroon for top European clubs looking to poach the next African starlet.

And though success at senior world level has consistently eluded the 'Black Stars', their record at junior and continental level tells a story of untapped potential waiting to burst forth in Germany.

On four separate occasions Ghana have won the African Nations Cup and twice took home the laurels at the prestigious Under- 17 World Championship.

With Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic - appointed just after Christmas and credited largely for an impressive qualifying turnaround - pulling the strings, and a raft of talented players plying their trade in some of the world's high-power leagues, first- timers Ghana will be a team to beware.

After finally qualifying, Ghana will feel unlucky to have been drawn in such a tough group made up of Italy, Czech and USA. They qualified well, losing just once in 10 games and beating favourites South Africa home and away, but confidence was dented in the recent African Nations when defeat to Zimbabwe ended their hopes at the group stage. There is talent in their ranks but nobody is giving Ghana a dog?s chance to make it out of a very tough group. But then the side plans on being far more than mere soft-touches in Germany.

Ghana, who first tried to qualify for a World Cup all the way back in 1962, will be keen to turn their bags of potential and technique into results at the global party.
Among the globetrotting squad members, the searching orchestrations and tireless work rate of the midfield trio of Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien and captain Stephen Appiah makes them arguably the side's most potent weapon.

Alongside them in the 'Black Stars' are current AS Roma and former Bayern Munich defender Sammy Kuffour and John Mensah of Renne, France who make up a solid defence

The attaching machine is not world class quality, but Asamoah Gyan and Matthew Amoah who stood up to be counted over the course of qualifying are the team's most-potent scoring threat.

"This is something that generations of Ghanaian footballers have dreamt of and worked towards," exclaimed Holland-based striker Amoah after a 4-0 win over Cape Verde saw them through.

Many pundits point to the irony that, at this point in their history, Ghana are lacking the glittering stars of their recent past. But although they may not have an Abedi Pele or a Tony Yeboah, Appiah and company will surely be flying the standard with pride and passion.