It is fascinating how some of us cite Aliou Cissé success at Senegal often but forget or completely refuse to appreciate that part of what went into Cissé’s success story included patience which comes with time.
If we are not suggesting a dismissal of Chris Hughton who faces his first major tourney under three months, the admonition should focus on team improvement. The last AFCON was our worst ever. I am hopeful as we gear up for Côte d’Ivoire, but I do not have high expectation. We can only improve.
I agree we must be better. And we can only get better and back to top form only in the space of time. All other factors considered, the Cissé we refer to is in his eighth year. He went past half a decade mark before doing anything substantial with his team.
In the last four to five years, what have we done? At best, we have dilly dallied — chopping and changing coaches at will — hiring clueless coaches like Milo after setting up coaches like CK to fail. We must accept that the Black Stars have sunk.
It is going to take some tough decisions, sacrifice, hard work, time, patience especially from the managers, coaches, and players to see our national team rise again. Hopefully, the team will come good against the United States this evening in Nashville in the last of their two important friendlies.