Ghanaian winger Joseph Paintsil, a pivotal figure in Coach Chris Hughton’s 27-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, expresses optimism regarding the Black Stars’ chances and targets a spot in the tournament’s final.
Read also: Fatawu Issahaku’s red card spurs 3-match ban in Leicester’s 3-1 loss to Coventry
Ahead of Ghana’s opening game against Cape Verde on Sunday, Paintsil shares his expectations with the media team of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), emphasizing the importance of a step-by-step approach. He states, “Our expectation is to win our games, go to the next level, win the next games, and then just get to the final. That’s my expectation but one game at a time,” as revealed in a video shared by the Ghana FA.
Despite the high expectations, Paintsil acknowledges the necessity for a focused and gradual strategy to navigate the tournament successfully. Ghana’s last appearance in the AFCON final was nine years ago in 2015, ending in a penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast.
As the 2023 AFCON commences in Ivory Coast on Saturday, January 13, fans eagerly anticipate Paintsil and the Black Stars making a strong impact, beginning with their opening match against Cape Verde on Sunday, January 14. This marks the winger’s second AFCON appearance, having been part of the 2021 edition where Ghana exited in the group phase.
