Ghanaian football legend, Mohammed Polo, a champion from the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations, expressed his confidence in the upcoming tournament hosted in Côte d’Ivoire from January 13 to February 11.
The tournament features 24 teams, with Ghana positioned in Group 2, competing against Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.
Ghana’s campaign kicks off against Cape Verde on January 14 at 10:00 PM (Cairo time) at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
“btolat.com” reached out to Mohammed Polo to discuss his expectations for the upcoming edition and Ghana’s journey in the tournament, including the highly anticipated match against Egypt.
Polo, who clinched the title at the age of 17, remarked, “The next edition will be full of surprises because there are no longer small teams in African football.”
“I expect Ghana to qualify as runners-up to the Egyptian team in Group 2, but it won’t be easy with Cape Verde and Mozambique in the mix,” he added.
Regarding Ghana’s prospects in the tournament, Polo stated, “Given the current team’s performance, I believe they can reach the semi-finals, but winning the title will be challenging.”
He continued, “There’s a young team in our national squad, needing a year or two to gain confidence and achieve positive results.”
Polo highlighted the significant evolution of African football in recent years, citing the efforts made by countries like Comoros, Gambia, Niger, Madagascar, and Mauritania to compete in the coming years.
Speaking about the Egyptian team, Polo praised the Pharaohs, saying, “They have a good team, a collective performance, and outstanding players like Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, and Mostafa Mohamed, who represent a formidable force.”
When asked about how to stop a player like Mohamed Salah, Polo expressed confidence, stating, “I believe we have players capable of neutralizing his threat; that’s the job of the coaching staff, for sure.”
Regarding the top contenders for the title, Polo listed them as follows: “Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast, in that order.”
