Bayern Munich and Ghanaian international defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour is warning fans not to expect anything of the Black Stars at Mali 2002. He says the team are in no shape to put up a serious challenge because of the failure of the Ghana Football Association to give them the necessary support.
Speaking to BBC Sport Online at his home in Munich, Kuffour said the lack of proper leadership at the GFA had been a root cause of Ghana's inability to win an African title in twenty years.
"There are a lot of problems in the management of the national team and I must say that the GFA is to blame for most of them", said Kuffour.
There are some hidden forces behind what is going on "We try to do the best for our nation. I do my best when I play because I am conscious of the fact that my family will have to suffer a lot of abuse from fans. People could abuse my mother on the street when we lose a game. "I must tell you that it will kill me if my mum has to receive insults because of what I do for the national team".
The Stade de Segou hosts Ghana's opening match of Mali 2002 against the Atlas Lions of Morocco.
Kuffour says the Black Stars performance in this encounter will determine their fate in the tournament as a whole.
"The match against Morocco is a very big game. Everyone will be watching. And we really have to motivate ourselves and help each other if we are going to get results".
The FA's decision to exclude Ghana's captain Charles Akonnor from the proposed Nations Cup squad is another cause for criticism, according to Kuffour.
"I'm very unhappy with the terrible way that Charles has been treated.
"Akonnor is our leader and we need him. If they wanted to remove him, there is a better way than to humiliate him in public.
"I believe that the decision to drop Akonnor from the squad was not the sole decision of coach Fred Osam Duodu. There are some hidden forces behind what is going on".
Kuffour is uncertain when he will report to Ghana's Nations Cup camp but says he will finalise the issue with Bayern manager Othmar Hitzfeld soon.
