Ghana officially touched down in the north-eastern Algerian city of Constantine on Thursday as they enter the final stages of their preparations for this year’s TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) showpiece.
Despite the west African nation not yet lifting the TotalEnergies CHAN title, the pedigree of talented footballers that the country continues to produce for world football rightfully earns them the favourites tag in their group,
The Black Galaxies have been placed in a tough Group C to face title holders Morocco, Madagascar and Sudan.
Exclusively speaking to CAFOnline.com on Thursday from their team hotel in Constantine, 24-year-old midfield supremo, David Sandam Abagna said the team was well prepared for this tournament and that their overall goal is to make the people of Ghana proud back at home.
“We started with our preparations gradually in Ghana and increased the intensity when we got here. We played a few low profile matches and progressed to playing tougher sides from Ghana which also included a few international friendlies. So, I think our preparations have been good but there is still quite a bit of work to do” says the Real Tamale United star.
“We were in Algiers for a few days and also played a couple of friendly matches which gave us a taste of the weather but now that we are here in Constantine, we have to re-adjust a bit because it is much colder” he added.
With Ghana being one of the first nations to arrive in Algeria, it serves as a clear sign of intent of doing well in this unique competition that truly celebrates African football talent for the world to witness.
The Black Galaxies face Madagascar in their opening fixture on Sunday in what many may tip the west Africans for a win.
However, nothing has been won until the game is officially concluded according to Abagna, who stressed that there are no easy teams in this competition and that all teams that are in Algeria will want to do well.
“We are a difficult group. We cannot afford to look down on anyone. It is a game of football which at times comes with surprises. Everyone comes into the tournament with their best players, so you need to be ready for anything. We can only stay focused and try to take every game as it comes”.
Asked on what was his personal goal for the tournament, the diminutive midfielder emphasized the need to put the goal of the squad and the nation first, ahead of his – saying that the team must always come first before any personal goals.
“First is to always stick to the general goal, which is to make our country proud. Everyone back at home is paying attention to what we are doing here, and we are all here to make our country proud. I think if the team does well, it will automatically rub off onto the players because you cannot do well by yourself while the team suffers”, he concluded.
Ghana’s second match will be Thursday, 19 January against an unpredictable Sudanese side before wrapping up their Group C assignment against Morocco on Monday, 23 January.
