Former Ghanaian defender Frimpong Manso has voiced apprehensions regarding the Black Stars’ group-stage matchups in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Grouped with Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique in Group B, Manso anticipates challenges and foresees the team encountering difficulties in these contests.
In an interview with Kessben FM, Manso said, “I think we will struggle a bit in the group stage but I believe we will qualify for the next round. The next round is going to be very difficult. Because we are likely to face Ivory Coast or Nigeria, who are strong contenders in the competition.”
Manso believes that the team needs to focus on their performances in the group stage in order to advance to the knockout stages.
“Indeed, that’s where our competition will begin. I remember that in Angola 2010, we kept winning by a small margin, which took us to the final stage of the competition. It’s not going to be easy for us. But I believe we will struggle in the group stage but we will qualify.”
Manso’s apprehensions are reasonable, considering Ghana’s lacklustre showings in recent Africa Cup of Nations editions.
The team’s recent track record has been less than stellar, and facing formidable opponents like Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique in the group stage adds to the challenge.
Nevertheless, with a well-devised strategy and judicious player selection, Ghana possesses the capability to surmount these obstacles and stage a commendable performance in the tournament.