For more on the upcoming FIFA World Cup and fan expectations from Ghana's Black Stars, VOA’s Jackson Mvunganyi spoke to Victor Atsu Tamakloe, a football analyst.
The interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
VOA: How excited are Ghanaians to see the Black Stars compete in the World Cup?
Tamakloe: Ghanaians are very excited.
The pain of missing out in the 2018 World Cup and the disappointing nature of the 2014 campaign made people long for this more than you would have ordinarily.
The excitement is also influenced by the fact that you have several high-profile Ghanaian players who are playing in the top teams in Europe, which is bringing about an expectation that we will have world class representation in our team.
If you look through the team now, players like Thomas Partey are scoring goals for teams like Arsenal.
That strong bond between fans and players who are excelling in Europe is adding to expectations.
VOA: Are fans hoping that the way players are performing in Europe will translate to their performance for the Black Stars in Qatar?
Tamakloe: That is the hope.
If you look through the Black Stars, for some time now, the team has not been able to match up to the expectations.
Since making AFCON finals in 2015, it has been downhill.
If you look at previous squads, there has always been suspicions that we were not represented by the best of our players, but after the 2022 African Cup of Nations, there has been a few changes.
Otto Addo is the new coach, and he has brought in new energy into the team.
VOA: The Black Stars recently lost to Brazil in an international friendly. What was the takeaway from that game in terms of how they are likely to perform?
Tamakloe: That friendly left Ghanaians confused.
It did not offer any clarity regarding what we can expect from the World Cup, because before this game, the conversation was Otto Addo had an assembly of players that are suited for the type of football he wants for the team.
However, what is not in doubt is that there is a lot of attacking quality in the team.
VOA: Who are some of the players that we should be looking out for?
Tamakloe: The cameo that Inaki Williams made against Brazil was one where you can argue he took full advantage, because even though he did not score, his performance gave Ghanaians the impression that he can make an impact.
Salisu Mohamed brought a sense of stability and authority to the defense that previously had not been seen in the team.
In terms of quality, there are several players to look out for.
