Anthony Annan, a former midfielder for Ghana, has offered his thoughts on what he thinks the Black Stars should do to achieve their greatest outcomes.
The former Ghanaian international, who played a significant role in the senior national team from 2007 to 2013, thinks that the Black Stars’ ability to consistently play together will be essential to their success.
The former Hearts of Oak player stated in an interview aired on Pipapipa Media in Germany, “If they play consistent among themselves, it will be okay like during our time. We are praying that they are able to identify each other because the task ahead of them is big so they can contain it and show their worth like how we were able to do during our time.”
Preparations have started for the Black Stars as they attempt to break the curse of not winning the African Cup of Nations since 1982. Due to an injury sustained while playing for Arsenal, the crucial midfield player Thomas Partey will not be playing for the West African team entering the league.
Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao and Mohammed Kudus of West Ham are two of the main players Ghanaians would be watching in Ivory Coast, he added.
As a direct injury replacement for Essien for Ghana’s FIFA International friendlies against Austria and Brazil in 2007, Annan a junior and Olympic international for Ghana received his first senior call-up for the national team on March 20, 2007.
At the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 27, 2007, he earned his first cap against Brazil, when Ghana was defeated 0-1. following assisting the national team to a third-place finish in the African Cup of Nations. On November 15, 2009, he scored his first goal for the national team in a 2–2 tie with Mali.
Annan represented Ghana at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa the following year and participated in his first World Cup game, playing the entire match in a 1-0 victory over Serbia during the group round. Before the national team was eliminated from the World Cup against Uruguay due to a 4–2 loss in a penalty shootout, Annan participated in all five games for the team.
After two years, Annan was called up to the national squad for the Africa Cup of Nations tour, and he ended up playing for the team on seven occasions. Later in the year, on September 8, 2012, in a 2-0 victory over Malawi, Annan netted his second goal for the team.The national team then called up Annan for the African Cup of Nations after this.
Even though Annan stayed home for a while, he stated in 2020 that he was ready to play for the Ghana Blackstars.
Anthony Annan is one of the most decorated players to play for the black stars who has won the Ghana Premier League with Hearts of Oak, DFB Pokal, DFL Super Cup, Rosenborg Player of the Season 2009 and many more. His impact for club and country was massive and he’s considered to be one the players that is difficult to replace because of his technical abilities.
He currently plays for German lower tier Arminia Lirich. The 37-year-old made the decision to sign contract with the club after making an impression on Lirich’s technical handlers, who think his wealth of expertise might help them realise their goal of being promoted.
Per the experience he has in football we hope one day after he retire he would venture into coaching and help young and talented players and train them to become like him to help the black stars and world football at large.
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