Pele “had Ghana in mind’ when he predicted an African nation would be crowned champions of the FIFA World Cup
Pele’s verdict on African country and the World Cup could mean Ghana may be embracing to conquer and be crowned champions of the World in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
When it happens Ghana lift the biggest trophy in football in the Arab land, it would be the country’s historic football achievement after winning the FIFA U17 and U20 World Cup.
Their quest begins in Qatar when they take on one of the 2022 World Cup favourites Portugal on Thursday and Pele’s previous comments on the chances of African country winning the FIFA World Cup has been brought into the spotlight.
Europe and South America particularly Argentina and Brazil have dominated winning the World Cup with Africa one of the surprised continent that could lift the global trophy. But some football greats have given strong signal of hope that one day, an African country will conquer the World Cup.
Ghana is one of the African countries that can win the FIFA World Cup, a Pele verdict has suggested.
The Brazil legend appears to have “had Ghana in mind” when he predicted some time ago that an African nation would be crowned world champions one day. Ghana’s records in the tournament raises a huge evidence to Pele’s verdict after forcing Brazil 2014 World Cup winners Germany to a 2-2 draw in the group stages.
At a point, the former World Champions needed to come from behind the secure a vital point and Ghana open their campaign in Qatar 2022 against Portugal with similar judgment on the Germany results wildly held heading into Thursday opener.
Pele, labelled ‘greatest’ by FIFA, forecasted in the 1970s that an African team would eventually win the World Cup before the end of the century.
But that is yet to be realized with Africa yet to produce a semi-finalist at the global stage.
The Black Stars of Ghana and the Teranga Lions of Senegal are the only two African countries to have reached the quarter-final stage.
Ghana take on Portugal in their opening match before playing South Korea and crucially Uruguay on December 2.
Ghana president Nana Akufo Addo has said the great Pele had Ghana in mind when he made the bold prediction over 40 years ago.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said: “A long time ago, the greatest footballer that’s ever lived, the Brazilian Pele, said that very soon an African country is going to lift that trophy, and I know that he had in mind Ghana.
“Let’s all together rally around the young men and the team and make sure we give them our maximum support.
“They’re going to go a long way away in Doha and Qatar, but they should know the entire nation, without distinction of politics, or religion, or ethnicity; the entire Ghanaian nation are 100 per cent solidly behind them.”
Luis Suarez’s hand ball on the goal line at the 2010 Fifa World Cup, which led to their painful quarterfinal exit, still carries scars for the Ghanians and they will be intent on exacting revenge.
Interim manager Otto Addo, who only took charge in February, will ask his players to play with fire in their hearts and ice in their veins.
Thomas Partey, the fulcrum of the side, has emerged as a powerhouse midfielder for club and country. Inaki Williams, whose brother Nico is also at the tournament, albeit playing for Spain, is another exciting player who could help the Black Stars soar in a very challenging group.
The Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, will also be intent on building their family legacy by guiding an African nation to a first semifinal.
