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| Mohammed Polo, former Black Stars player |
Former Ghana international Mohammed Polo has urged Black Stars coach CK Akonnor to look out for players who will be ready to sacrifice personal glory for team success.
Akonnor replaced James Kwasi Appiah as head coach of the West African nation in January.
He has been tasked to lead the team to victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and qualify Ghana for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“He [Akonnor] must select players who are ready to die for each other," Polo, a member of Ghana's 1978 Afcon-winning side, told Ashh FM.
"He must have a team that cares less about who the captain is, who the goalkeeper or the top scorer is.
“This is the only thing for his squad to play like a team because in our time we were playing like a team.
“He must also ensure there is enough competition in the team; only players in good form are selected.
“In our time, there was a lot of competition in the team and that was one of the reasons that made us a formidable side."
Ghana have set their sight on breaking a 39-year trophyless drought to win Afcon in Cameroon next year.
The last of their four titles came in 1982. In 1992, the Black Stars finished second, losing to Cote d’Ivoire in a penalty shoot-out. In 1996, Ghana reached the semi-final again, this time placing fourth after falling to Zambia in a third-place play-off.
The Black Stars are also looking to make a return to the World Cup, having missed out on the last gathering in Russia in 2018.
Source: goal.com