Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo has urged the country’s football leadership to do everything possible to maintain the technical team that delivered the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup ticket.
The 46-year-old ex-international was originally engaged by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for just the two games against Nigeria in the African playoffs to the World Cup.
And the Germany 2006 World Cup campaigner with the Black Stars delivered the ticket with George Boateng and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani as assistants alongside former Brighton manager Chris Hughton who took up a technical advisory role for the team.
With the Black Stars now back at the Mundial for a fourth outing after previous participations consecutively in 2006, 2010 and 2014, Ghana’s first gentleman has praised the work of the technical team in achieving the feat.
“What we’ve seen in these two matches is the wonders of cooperation and solidarity right from the management through the technical team, the team of people working together for a common goal and that is what we want to see continue at the World Cup,” President Akufo-Addo stated in an address as he hosted the gallant Black Stars team at the seat of Government – Jubilee House – Wednesday afternoon.
Today at the Jubilee House in Accra, the players of the Black Stars and the Technical team called on H.E Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo – President of the Republic of Ghana.#BringBackTheLove | #BlackStars pic.twitter.com/9FsfwQOzXk
— Black Stars 🇬🇭 (@GhanaBlackstars) March 30, 2022
He then advocated: “I’m hoping that the technical team that has been put together for these two [playoffs] matches will at least take us through the World Cup itself.
“I told the head coach [Otto Addo] to be careful when he comes to Ghana that he might likely be kidnapped here and make it difficult for him to go back to Germany and to Dortmund. We want him here.”
“But I would [urge] Mr. Okraku [GFA President] that whatever you can do to make sure the [technical] team stays together for at least until Qatar. Then afterward, we can take the long-term decisions… Let’s keep together,” Nana Addo added.
Acting as captain, Thomas Partey scored the crucial away goal that took Ghana to Qatar 2022 as they forced a 1-1 draw in Nigeria to win the playoffs on away goals on Tuesday.
The star midfielder struck after 10 minutes in Abuja and although William Troost-Ekong, levelled from a 22nd-minute penalty, the Super Eagles failed to score again. The first leg ended in a barren stalemate in Kumasi.
Ghana is the first African country to qualify for Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup. The Black Stars are joined by Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroon for the November 21 to December 18 tournament.
