Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia: Ghana Vice present offers support for Black Stars ahead of World Cup playoff against Nigeria |

Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has rallied support for the Black Stars ahead of their World Cup qualifier play-off decider against Nigeria next month.

The respected Ghanaian Politician has promised to offer support to the senior national team despite their poor show at the just ended Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

Ghana crashed out of the competition after finishing bottom of their group as they failed to make it out of the group stages after losing to Morocco and inexperienced Comoros.

“I’m always proud of the Black Stars for going out and representing Ghana, regardless of the result, especially during the pandemic which has been a difficult time for all,” Bawumia stated in an interview with PAV Magazine.

“It was of course a disappointing AFCON tournament for us, and I know that we are capable of achieving much more. Now it will be important to work together as a team especially as our focus turns to the vital World Cup qualifiers next month.

“I will always be cheering them on, regardless of the results,” he added.

Newly appointed coach, Otto Addo will be in the dugout for the double header against the Super Eagles for a place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

The first leg is scheduled to come-off on Friday, March 25, 2022 in Cape Coast with the return leg to be honoured in Abuja in four days time.

Ghana will be hoping to book a place in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup that starts this November and ends December. A qualification for the Black Stars will be their fourth appearance in five World Cup attempts since 2006 finals.

In their last appearance in Brazil 2014, Ghana failed to qualify out of Group G against United State of America, Portugal and Germany. Ghana place last in the group with a just a draw against Germany who eventually topped the table with 7 points.

Ghana’s game against Germany was the difficult of all other group games but the Black Stars managed to avoid defeat. They could have won the tie should clear chances that fell to Jordan Ayew were converted.

In the Germany game, composure may seem at odds with the pulsating second half that served up another classic in Brazil but Löw’s team did not lose belief in their ability or game-plan after falling behind to Asamoah Gyan’s goal.

Ghana’s superb display stretched Germany. Kevin-Prince Boateng had accused them of lacking leaders but they refused to break.

“That was a really tough fight (against Ghana),” said then Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker. “It deserved to be my 100th game for Germany. I’m proud of that number. We expected Ghana to perform physically and the way we came back was magnificent.

“We are proud of that performance even if it’s just a draw. In a special way our comeback was good. We showed that we are a strong team. We are still in a good position and our confidence is high.” No wonder with the World Cup insurance of Miroslav Klose on the bench.

Ghana and Germany delivered an enthralling contest while taking an equal share in World Cup scoring records. Gyan drew level with Cameroon’s Roger Milla as the leading African goalscorer in the competition with his fifth goal, swept emphatically beyond Manuel Neuer from Sulley Muntari’s through ball.

It was a merited moment of redemption for the striker who missed the last-gasp penalty that would have put Ghana into the 2010 semi-finals at the expense of Uruguay.

“Scoring five goals on the biggest stage like these finals is not easy,” said Ghana’s then captain Gyan. “I would like to thank the players for all these years; they have supported me through the ups and downs, especially the last World Cup. I’m a legend now and I feel great for that.”

His joy at scoring five on the World Cup stage puts Klose’s incredible achievement into context. Germany led when Mario Götze’s converted Thomas Müller’s cross only for André Ayew to level with a magnificent soaring header.

Gyan’s strike would have spread fear through lesser teams but Löw summoned Klose from the bench and the 36-year-old poacher converted his 15th World Cup goal 112 seconds later. “Welcome to the club,” tweeted Brazil legend Ronaldo, with whom he now shares the all-time FIFA World Cup top scorer record.

Müller finished the game poleaxed after a collision with Ghana’s commanding defender John Boye but Löw insisted the injury is not serious. He was more concerned about the hip problem that prompted Jérôme Boateng’s withdrawal at half-time. Germany’s defence is a concern for Thursday’s meeting with Klinsmann’s USA. “The situation hasn’t changed a lot,” the unflappable Löw said. “We cannot afford to lose the last match but I still believe we are in a good position and one point will help us into the next round.”