President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has urged the senior national team, the Black Stars to see this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be staged in Egypt, as a “Year of Return” of the coveted trophy.

According to President Akufo Addo, this year’s tournament would afford the team an opportunity to write their names in gold and be counted among the football greats of the country, adding that adequate resources had been put in place to ensure their success.

He made this known in Accra at the Banquet Hall of the Jubilee House at a ceremony to bid farewell to the team as they prepare to leave Ghana for Dubai on Sunday, June 2, for a training tour before coach Kwesi Appiah announces his 23-man squad for the tournament slated for June 21 to July 19. President Akufo Addo urged the players to make the nation at the competition.

He promised to attend the opening game of the Stars against Benin on June 25.

“The support and affection of Ghanaians should spur you on to deliver the ultimate and I intend to be in attendance for the team's opening game of the group”.

Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, Minister of Youth and Sports, assured the nation that all arrangements to ensure the team delivers the trophy had been made.

He advised the players to subdue their individual egos for the success of the team, adding that team work and commitment were critical to the winning the trophy.

Coach Kwesi Appiah, thanked the President on behalf of his technical team for the immense support and assured the President of his team’s preparedness for the tournament.