2023 Afcon: Learn from Argentina’s World Cup success – Willie Klutse urges Black Stars
Ghanaian football icon, Willie Klutse, has urged the Black Stars to draw inspiration from Argentina’s World Cup success despite their challenging start in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Scheduled to face Mozambique on January 22 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium for their final Group B match, the Black Stars encountered a rough start with a 3-0 loss to Cape Verde in the opening game, followed by a 2-2 draw against Egypt.
Klutse, a 1978 AFCON winner, remains optimistic about the team’s potential for a comeback. Alongside fellow AFCON legends Rev. Osei Kofi, James Kuuku Dadzie, and Kofi Pare, Klutse visited the team’s training session to offer encouragement and guidance.
The football veterans emphasized that the nation stands firmly behind the team and expressed confidence in their ability to overcome challenges.
“We let them know that all is not lost. We referred them to the past World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina lost their first game but went on to win the trophy, so it’s possible. The whole thing is they should focus and set their mind to achieving something for themselves and the nation because the whole nation is looking up to them, and they are capable of doing it,” Klutse told 3news.
Identifying a lack of focus as a significant issue, Klutse analyzed the team’s performance, particularly in the second game against Egypt.
He attributed the lapses to moments of relaxation and distraction when ahead on the scoreboard.
“The first game they lost focus because they thought the game was over so they relaxed. They tried to work in the second game, but the same thing. When they went ahead, they lost focus again, they had to work hard and come back and then they lost their focus again.
“Sometimes in football, when you are playing the game and once in a while you look at the scoreboard, it can deceive you. Some of the players look at the scoreboard and think the game is over, but the game is not over until it’s over. So again they lost focus and made these bad mistakes. I think they have learnt their lessons and I believe strongly they will do a good job and move to the next stage,” he added.
Highlighting the crucial importance of maintaining focus until the final whistle, Klutse believes the team has learned valuable lessons and anticipates a strong performance in their upcoming match against Mozambique.
Despite the hurdles, a victory could still propel Ghana to the round of 16, either as one of the best third-placed teams or as runners-up if Egypt faces a setback against Cape Verde in the parallel fixture.
The Black Stars will need to deliver a resilient performance to advance further in the competition.