Osman Bukari, a player for Ghana, is optimistic that the Black Stars can end their 40-year trophy drought at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In the past ten years, the Black Stars have come dangerously close to ending their trophy drought. In 2010, Angola lost the final to Egypt, and in 2015, Equatorial Guinea-Gabon saw the Stars lose to Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout.
Speaking after Ghana’s World Cup exit, the Red Star Belgrade star expressed the Black Stars can annex the AFCON 2024 title in Ivory Coast.
Asked if Ghana can win AFCON 2024, he said, “Oh Yes, anything can happen. We have to put it at the back of our minds we are going to win AFCON 2024”
“We have a very young team so anything can happen though I’m not 100% sure of Ghana winning it but its football and anything can happen” he told BYT Sports TV.
The Black Stars were eliminated after the first round of the tournament following a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay.
After defeating South Korea in their second group game, the Black Stars needed a draw or win against Uruguay to advance to the last 16 stage.
But the team failed to negotiate for points against their ‘enemies’ Uruguay.
Ghana made a strong start to the game, but fell apart after captain Andre Ayew missed a penalty in the 21st minute, a repeat of what happened in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The Black Stars will now shift attention to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set to begin in earnest.
The four-time African champions sit top of Group D with four points from the first two games of the qualifiers.