I am devastated.
I just can’t believe that la Cote d’Ivoire is out of the African Cup of Nations and Ghana is still in contention. I tipped our western neighbours to lift the cup and never in my wildest dreams did I see an inexperienced Black Stars squad to go beyond the group stage.
Today, the Black Stars played their hearts out against a determined Angolan side and secured a place in the semi-finals. Suddenly, they are looking like a team that could win the cup.
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I think they won’t but I like to be surprised.
Whether the Black Stars win the trophy or not, one thing is for sure – the team is better off without the likes of Michael Essien and Sully Muntari. A few months ago when I suggested that the two should be kicked out of the squad, a certain Kojo Annan said it amounted to throwing the baby away with the bathwater. Well, they are out and the team is throwing eggs in the faces of all its critics.
About la Cote d’Ivoire, the least said about them the better. For the second CAN running, they’ve disappointed me and I am not going to back them again for a long time to come.
On the day that Arsenal was kicked out of the English FA Cup, I expected them to give me something to cheer about. The least I expected of them was to field a disorientated defence against Algeria – who had been all but written off after their abysmal first game against Malawi. Those Ivorian elephants have really trampled on my heart and it hurts so.
With Cote d’Ivoire out of CAN 2010, I don’t know which team to bet on. I will decide after all the quarter-final games have been played. But I am thinking that, perhaps, I should just sit back and enjoy the games without sticking my neck out for any team. I hate to be on the losing side. Or I should cultivate a little more faith in the Black Stars, who, I admit, seem to be enjoying promising resurgence?
