Following the poor show at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the infamous airlifting of $3million, which disgraced the country in the presence of the international Community, the massive support the senior national team, the Black Stars, used to enjoy has nose-dived.
Indeed the handlers of the team were compelled to shift the venue of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches from the traditional Kumasi Sports Stadium to Tamale stadium. Most Ghanaians are not happy that after the Brazil debacle, most of the players have not shown any sign of remorse.
In fact, some of them were rather trying to justify what happened by saying that, football is their profession and that they must be paid what is due them.
With the exception of Captain Asamoah Gyan, who rendered an apology to Ghanaians and Micheal Essien who reluctantly issued a statement calling for calm, the rest of the team players have remained quiet.
The massive support that Ghanaian football fans gave the Black Stars during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the AFCON 2010 held in Angola and the 2012 AFCON which was co- hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, has completely dwindled at the ongoing AFCON 2015, being hosted by Equatorial Guinea. A survey conducted by The Chronicle indicates that most Ghanaians fans are no more interested in wearing the paraphernalia of the national team.
To make matters worse, the team put up a lackluster performance in their opening match against Senegal. The Black Stars played as if there was nothing at stake for them and their country.
The Chronicle is, however, happy that the players realized their mistakes and put up a spirited performance against the much fancied Algerian side, beating them by a goal to nil. The period the goal was scored and the finesse attached to Asamoah Gyan's strike was enough to signal to Ghanaians that the team was in for the kill.
As the team prepares to play in the quarter finals after beating South Africa in the last group qualifying match, The Chronicle appeals to Ghanaians to give the team the needed support that they used to do in the past.
The last time Ghana won the AFCON was as far back as 1982 in Libya, when most of the current youth had not been born. We are, therefore, hungry for the cup more than any other country participating in the current tournament.
It is an undisputed fact that the team let the nation down during the World Cup; The Chronicle, however, thinks that this episode must be consigned to the dust bin. The players and Ghanaians as a whole must now focus on the battle ahead, which is winning the cup. That is what would bring us joy and not the past incident which has no doubt dented the image of this country.