It only took a swing of Asamoah Gyan’s trusted right foot to get the nation believing again.
It did take 93 minutes, 93 tortuous minutes in which Ghana was all but out of the tournament they had won four times in their history. But when it finally came, the nation celebrated as one.
Prior to that goal however, there was a sense that Ghanaians were resigned to another negative result, particularly as they were facing the continent’s best team, Algeria, who had turned over South Africa in the previous game.
Those feelings wouldn’t have been eased by a cagey first half in which neither side barely had a sniff at goal. The antagonism that has greeted the Black Stars’ most recent deeds was replaced by indifference.
However, the raucous celebrations after the win suggested that the perceived unconcern may just be a defense mechanism for Ghanaians against further disappointment.
The episode in Brazil hurt; a sense of injustice in the way they as a nation were almost held to ransom by the players despite their loyalty and largely unflinching support for them.
“I couldn’t care less about that disgraceful team. Whatever happens doesn’t matter to me,” one disgruntled fan said.
It is probably unfair to have the whole team being described as disgraceful, considering only four players named in the starting line-up for today’s game against South Africa started the Black Stars’ final World Cup game against Portugal last June.
However it is understandable that for a nation that has been starved of success – except the under-20 World cup win in 2009 – the source of pride, their famed, almost routine World Cup run, was tarnished by a very “endowed” plane and a couple of slaps.
Beating South Africa and qualifying for the quarter finals of the AFCON would be a major step towards repairing that broken chain between the fans and the players, winning the tournament an even bigger one.
It isn’t clear how the Ghanaian public will react to a loss to South Africa, which would mean an exit from the tournament. Well maybe it is.
To put it lightly, the Black Stars players should not expect flowers and chocolate on their doorsteps for Valentine’s.
A victory is needed and expected tonight and the Black Stars must be up for it to regain the confidence of this once adoring public.
However, you get the sense that it would take a lot more than another decisive swing of Asamoah Gyan’s right foot to get Ghanaians cheering with the same passion as before.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EdKwakofi