Are we expecting the end of the cup drought?

The other day that I wrote boldly on the topic: "Overcoming Our  Sporting Challenges in 2015", I had cause to mention that one of the cardinal power-generating turbines that would generate our sporting power and register a fresh dignity must be what would possibly happen in the coming Equatorial Guinea AFCON 2015 tournament. 

It is often said that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that light must flash from the challenges the Black Stars will face and how they conduct themselves this very January, 2015.

The year 2014 was characterised by unwanted failures, starting from the Brazil World Cup debacle to one of our poorest showing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland during which we presented some less-known disciplines like shooting, power-lifting, track cycling, swimming, weight-lifting, and others what exposed our hopelessness before highly dignified sporting celebrities.  

And to add insult to injury, we could not start our normal annual league programme up still now with a incredible three-month lateness due to a court case. What a calamity!

Yes, the year 2014 seemed to have come to close our chapter of disappointments that came our way from the days the Ghana Olympic Committee had things jammed, and suffered a ban at the hands of the mother body, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for what was purported to be political interference in sporting activities. 

Thanks to the resilience of our former president, Prof John Evans Attah-Mills of blessed memory, who had to work extra time behind the scenes to straighten matters to enable us to participate in the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. And that was expected to spell out a fresh chapter on the sporting calendar.

So as we crossed over to a new year, our prayer is that the Black Stars would re-write history after 33 years in the dock, dating back to the Libya 1982 in the heat of the PNDC Revolution. God showed his mercies and compassion in that year when we were celebrating  our silver jubilee after independence. 

Those were the days the Black Stars were enjoying special respect on the continent, and we came chest-out to pronounce that we were invincible on the continent.

But what happened to us after that, with all the prayers and the amount of libations we poured for the unseen powers for victories. We have since seen a country like Cameroun who were not in reckoning, climbing up to equal our record of four wins and Egypt who had won two Cups at the time that the Black Stars were not introduced to the continental fray, overtaking us to make a record seven wins.

That record leaves much to be desired. Of course on two occasions they had come up to the runners-up position - in 1992 in Senegal and 2010 in Angola. Even when we hosted the event in 2000 and 2008, there was nothing to celebrate in terms of victory. That is our story! 

However, all is not lost, and it appears since our three straight qualifications to the World Cup since 2006, our superiority on the African terrain is beyond doubt.

Today as the Black Stars step on the turf to do battle against Group C opponents in Equatorial Guinea - Senegal, South Africa and Algeria, all eyes are on the World Cup 2010 quarter-finalists. 

New coach Avram Grant  took charge of the team, knowing the task ahead  must be tough. He was aware of the low morale of the team coming from certain circumstances that created the Justice Dzamefe Commission of Inquiry.

The Israeli tactician knew that apart from Senegal who were runners-up in many African soccer analysts have placed the Mali 2002 and went ahead to claim a quarter-final berth at the Japan/Korea World Cup the same year, there are two former African champions, South Africa and Algeria to contend with.

And can we say the Black Stars of today are easily comparable to those days when they were displaying easy superiority over Africa, culminating in claiming four cups in a matter of 20 years? 

A close look at the Avran Grant team shows that there are problems of high magnitude, from the suspension of three of their reliable super-stars, and the introduction of as many as five new stars.

And as the battle line is drawn, the expectation is that the Black Stars will have to work extra hard to showcase an improved standards in Equatorial Guinea which has been described by soccer enthusiasts as "saviour tournament" as it was nearly rejected by all Africa for the fear of ebola menace after Morocco suddenly announced their unwillingness to continue with the programme, and the former Spanish colony of Spanish Guniea took a bold step to host it.

Many African soccer analysts have placed the Black Stars in the winning bracket as giants like Nigeria, the present cup holders and Egypt failed to qualify. But mind you, Burkina Faso, the last Cup runners-up, Zambia, the 2012 winners, Tunisia who have been to the World Cup more than any African country, Cameroun, who run equal to Ghana in terms of winning, and Cote d'Ivoire, the most feared side with all their super stars are all there to fight for the Cup.

The Stars opening match against Senegal will need all the forces to succeed. The Tarenga Lions still boast of being the second African country to reach the quarter-finals in the World Cup, and this time round they are more than determined to make an impressive appearance.

Indeed, a lot will have to be done by Asamoah Gyan and his men, and it is up to Avram Grant to vary his tactics from his unfamiliar 3 - 5 - 2 to the comfortable 4 - 2 - 4 or the recent 4 - 4 - 2 formation to ensure success. Of course, all will depend on the match fitness of the players in this image-building contest.

Followers of the Black Stars have been assured of good results and corporate bodies like GLICO and others are motivating them with assurances, apart from the $90,000 that will be banked in their accounts, and that must be enough to ginger them to bring some smiles on the faces of citizens of this land. 

Let's wish them the best of luck. God bless!