Even before Ghana meets her next opponent in the quarter finals of the 29thedition of the ongoing African cup of Nations in South Africa, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has stated in no uncertain terms that he was confident the ‘Black Stars’ posses what it takes to annex the cup after 31 years of groping in the dark.

According to the president though the ‘Black Stars’ had a shaky and lethargic start in the initial stages of the competition they seemed to have warmed into the game with the 3-0 drubbing of Niger in the last group game.

‘’I am happy OUR boys are now pressing and going for the goals, president Mahama said.’’

Speaking to the media on the chances of the team at the sidelines of the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, Ghana’s president was optimistic the ‘Black Stars’ could go past the quarter final stages by dispatching their next opponent which happens to be Cape Verde in the quarter final match on Saturday, to progress into the semi final stages and eventually go ahead to win the trophy.

While Ghana is ranked 26 by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), the Black Stars have won the prestigious trophy four times in 1963, 1956, 1978 and 1982 and runners up in 1968, 1970, 1992 and 2010. The Cape Verdean National team also known as the ‘’blue sharks’’ have not tasted any African cup glory, as 2013 is their first appearance on the African Football Summit and would want to perform a miracle against Ghana’s team, but President Mahama said NO way, not with the Black Stars.

President Mahama who is delighted with the progress being made by the ‘’Black Stars’’ noted that more often than not Ghana achieves the desired results without the assembling of a star studded team. He contended that ‘’we don’t have a star studded team. There are a lot of local boys but somehow it looks like when we have the kind of team that we win trophies.’’

It is worth noting that the winner of the 2013 African cup of nations will be able to qualify for the FIFA confederations cup which is hosted in Brazil as the representative from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in group B with Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti this year.

‘’I am keeping my fingers and toes and anything that can cross on my body crossed, and By God’s grace we shall win the cup,’’ President Mahama said.