Former Ghana international, Mohammed Ahmed Polo has expressed his optimism in the chances of the senior national team, the Black Stars to emerge champions at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Polo, who was part of the winning team of the 1978 championship held in Ghana, believes this current crop of players have all it takes to end the Nations’ Cup trophy drought that has bedeviled the country for over three decades.

“Looking at what happened in Angola 2010, though the team were relatively a young side, the boys managed to go all the way to the final. This convinces me that this team can replicate the same feat since the team again this time around looks more like that of Angola 2010 team,” he indicated. Mr. Polo says the current squad can go as far as winning the tournament in South Africa. He said this in an interview with Gbc Ura Radio in Bolgatanga. According to Polo, Ghanaians are very expectant of the team winning the championship. The man who was affectionately called “the dribbling magician” however cautioned Ghanaians not to mount pressure on the players and technical team but rather support the team with their prayers.

“Ghanaian will always expect nothing but the ultimate from the Black Stars and this year’s championship will not be different but I will rather ask them to keep the team in their prayers and not to over-criticise them especially if they don’t start the tournament well,” Polo cautioned. This year’s CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations is the 29th edition and will start from the 19th January to 10th of February in several cities across South Africa.

The senior national team, Black Stars have been pitted in group B alongside DR Congo, Niger and Mali, and will open the tournament against DR Congo on January 20 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, before games against West Africa neighbours Mali (January 24) and Niger on 28 January round up the group stages.