Some of Ghana's players were selfish at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be remembered in the country as one in which the team came so close but was still so far from ending its thirty-year trophy drought.
In more explosive revelations emanating from the team of their showing in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Kwesi Nyantakyi has admitted individualism played a key role in the team’s sub-par turnout at the tournament.
“During the competition we observed that some players played to achieve personal fame, prominence and excellence to the detriment of the team,” Nyantakyi said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Ghana went through the group stages of the Afcon as well as the knockout round, but fell short at the semi-final against Zambia. The FA boss went on: “When this came to our attention we called a meeting where the issue was discussed in the open. We believe that during the course of the competition that discussion contributed in improving the situation but it did not totally eliminate it.”
In addition to selfishness, Mr Nyantakyi confirmed the long-standing rumours of accusations within the rank and file of the team.
“We also had complains of some of them of especially the senior players accusing some of the junior ones of disrespect. These are things we believe on a continued basis we will be able to help the players out of these unfortunate character traits which affected the team adversely.”
In a few months, Ghana plays in the qualifiers for the next competition. Before then, there is a public inquest ongoing to heal the team in order to move on with a new script.
Kwasi Nyantakyi plays a dual role as Ghana FA boss and chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, the oversight organ of the male senior national team. Ghana placed fourth at Afcon 2012 after losing to Mali in the third-placed playoff.
