Akunnor Set to Quit After Mali

Ghana national team captain Charles Akunnor has said he would quit international football and concentrate on his club career after the 2002 Nations Cup in Mali. Akunnor told said that despite the pain of never playing at the World Cup, he couldn't go on forever.

"I don't have any more dreams of playing in the World Cup. I would quit international football after the next Nations Cup and concentrate on my club career," he said.

The Vfl Wolfsburg midfielder said it hurts him very much that Ghana won't be at the next World Cup. "I said that and people called me a pessimist but that is the truth even though it hurts. The points difference between us, Liberia and Nigeria was too much. We had to be realistic. 2006 would be an ideal target.

"We need to play in the World Cup. The talent here deserves that. Ghanaian players are doing fine in Europe and I just can't understand why we can't qualify for the World Cup", he added.

Akunnor who has played in every Nations Cup finals since 1994 said it is becoming clear that Ghanaians are losing interest in the Nations Cup after winning it four times and appearing in every edition since 1992.

"Even my mum has been questioning me as to why it is only the Nations Cup. I get a feeling the whole nation isn't thrilled by it any longer. I am not running down the tournament but let's face it, what we really want is the World Cup and it hurts badly we would not be there."

The absence of a Nations Cup fever notwithstanding, Akunnor says he and his colleagues would be going to Mali with a strong determination to win because "it represents Africa football supremacy" and it is still a big deal to be called African champions."

Akunnor replaced Abedi Pele as captain after the 1998 Nations Cup when the three-time African footballer of the year quit the national team. His leadership qualities have been questioned in the wake of recent poor performances by the Black Stars, a situation that led him to contemplate resigning his position.

"Filling the shoes of Abedi wasn't too big except that people expected me to behave and play like Abedi Pele but we are two different individuals. Throughout my career as a footballer, I have never been the type who would dribble the entire field and score. I am more of a team player but everybody wanted me to play that way because that was the way Abedi played."

Akunnor said unless Ghanaian soccer fans change their attitude, players would lose interest in playing for the national team. He said the manner players are criticised after poor performances could drive a lot of players away from the national team.

"After the 2000 nations cup, I couldn't believe some of the criticisms. I was called too old and finished by the same people who hailed me. Isn't it ironic then that I have been a regular at Wolfsburg in a league as competitive as the Bundesliga after that?

"We need to ask ourselves why players like Mohammed Gargo (Udinesse), Christian Gyan (Feyernood) and Eric Addo (PSVEindhoven), despite being regulars in their teams have refused to play for the Black Stars. Gargo for instance was insulted so much after the Nations Cup. I understand the team played poorly but you don't treat players that way because they under-performed."