World Cup 2010: Letter from Ghana on a country's 'one-goal project'
Ghana: Sunday 13 June. One of the greatest moments in African football. The Black Stars' defeat of Serbia gave an entire continent hope after South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria had all failed to win in their opening matches. The drivers would not stop honking, the cacophonous vuvuzelas were ubiquitous in the streets while few owners of bars and night clubs in the 10 regions of Ghana were complaining.
Sales of replica jerseys soared along with the level of confidence among fans. And yet, there was relief too. Going into the tournament there had been huge doubts. Only a few weeks ago traders were bemoaning the team's performances as their profits slumped compared to the run-in to Germany 2006. Although Ghana were the first African team to qualify for South Africa, the warm-up matches were dismal, losing 4-1 to Holland and managing only a 1-0 win over lowly Latvia. Journalists and analysts criticised the team and the management for their negative approach.
One of the few voices to stick up for Ghana then was the country's president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the former sports administrator who played hockey for the national team. Believe, he insisted. The Black Stars were simply playing it safe during the friendlies to avoid injuries. And so after Asamoah Gyan's penalty against Serbia, people began to believe.
Players who only two years ago were vilified at the Africa Cup of Nations have become the "darling" boys of the fans. Ghanaians long ago learnt to accept the absence of Michael Essien, and since he was ruled out through injury, his name has not cropped up again. Gyan, who also scored against Australia in the Black Stars' second group game in South Africa, nearly quit the camp in 2008, after threats were made to his family because some critics thought he was wasteful and should never be fielded. Gyan packed his bags, and nearly took his older brother Baffour Gyan with him. It took the ex-president John Agyekum Kufour to visit the camp and persuade him to stay.
At that same tournament, Dede Ayew, the son of football legend, Abedi Pele, was also hit hard, accused of being childish, even though at the time, he was just 17. Now, his performances in South Africa have seen him dominate the headlines with talk among some of the fans suggesting he, and not Gyan, should have been man of the match against Serbia.
And yet, for all the positives, the optimism post-Serbia lasted just a week. Going into tomorrow's game against Germany the sceptics, and the doubts, are back after the Black Stars could only draw against 10-man Australia. They top the group going into today, but since that draw on the weekend, and Serbia's win over Germany, the country has gone quiet.
The few believers have always made reference to Germany 2006 when the Black Stars beat the Czech Republic and USA, who were ranked 2nd and 5th respectively, in the Fifa world rankings to book a last-16 berth. But a new term has been coined in Ghana, and given the Black Stars a new nickname this year – "one-goal project". Critics point out they have not scored more than one goal in any match in 2010 and have also not been able to win any games in which they have first conceded. And Germany, of course, with all their high-profile players and history in the World Cup, badly need three points.
There are 23 million coaches in Ghana. A win or draw against the Germans will see the country catch light once more, but missing the next stage will leave it as silent as a cemetery, save only for the start of the post-mortem into how such a disaster occurred. Those who have failed will need strong hearts.