Otto Addo Head Coach of the Black Stars has indicated his team’s resolve to fight for the maximum three points at stake in their opening match of AFCON 2025 against Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday.
Speaking at the pre-match conference in Kumasi ahead of the crucial encounter, the Black Stars gaffer, said “There are no more cheap games in Africa”.
He said national teams across the continent had picked up and playing quality football, saying that Angola is no exception.
According to him, Angola had been impressive under their current Coach, Pedro Goncalves and that the Black Stars would have to work hard to secure victory at the expense of the visiting team.
Coach Addo said a team that is the current champions of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup could not be underrated.
The Angolans, he said, have so much quality in their team with a lot of them playing in the Portuguese league as well as other top leagues in Europe.
“It won’t be easy for us but we have got good players as well and I am convinced that we can beat them, but it won’t be easy,” he told the media.
He said although injury had ruled some of his players out of the game, the squad was ready to battle for the points.
Responding to a question on why Inaki Williams seems to be struggling to replicate his performance at club level in the Black Stars, Coach Otto said he was working on that to ensure both the team and Inaki himself adjusted their play to meet each other half way.
Following their victories in their last two matches, the Black Stars are expected to overcome the Angolan test riding on the back of the huge support base in Kumasi who have always played the 12th man role for the Stars.
It would however not come on a silver platter as admitted by the Coach, but what is certain is that they can’t afford to drop points especially after Sudan’s victory at home in the other group match.
Source: GNA
