Ghana has been without a continental showpiece since last winning the AFCON title in Libya in 1982 and C.K Akonnor has admonished Ghanaian to start believing a local coach can end the trophy hiatus.

Since then it has been from one near miss to other as the Black Stars have been at three AFCON finals but have failed to win any of them from 1992,2010 and 2015.

The four-time winners are seeking to end their 38-year wait for continental success, having won their last title in 1982.

But Black Stars coach Charles Komla Akonnor says he is not thinking about winning the coveted trophy as doing so will put untoward pressure on him and the team.

The former Ghana captain was handed the role after the GFA failed to extend the contract of his former boss Kwasi Appiah and is yet to make his debut as a coach.

As part of his targets given by the FA he is to win the next AFCON title that will be played on the continent and qualify Ghana to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.


Speaking during a zoom conference meeting, the former Kotoko, Hearts gaffer pointed out that the coveted trophy has been won by only Black coaches the four times Ghana has managed to win it.

Akonnor hopes he will be the fifth black coach to achieve this feat and has urged Ghanaians to start believing it is possible in Cameroon.

“I want to achieve this but we all need to believe. It's only local coaches who have won the AFCON", Coach Akonnor said in zoom conference with the press.

"I am confident it will happen with a local coach. Ghanaians must start believing us".

Akonnor also admitted the Ghana's group is difficult and tipped The Atlas Lions as the strongest in the group.

“Our group is very hard and I am very happy the Ghana FA arranged that friendly against Morocco.

“If we have the chance of meeting Morocco again things will be different. They are the strongest among our group”.

The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

The team will be based in Yaoundé for their first two games against Morocco and Gabon before traveling to Garoua for the final game.