<<Print>>

Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic believes he has the players to help him achieve his idea of being an African champion next year. The Black Stars coach on Thursday announced a 25 pre-competition squad for the 2012 African Nations Cup, which will be pruned to 23 by the time the tournament starts in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Amid contrasting views about some of his called up players, Stevanovic has espoused self confidence in his methods and declared himself happy and satisfied with his squad. With four titles to their credit, Stevanovic is very confident of ending a 30-year wait for an African title by winning a fifth title for Ghana. "I am happy with the squad," Stevanovic said. "I believe I can take Ghana to become champions [at 2012 Nations Cup]. That's my idea and we must believe it." "I believe in my work and my staff. During the two weeks [camping period], we can improve." Though he has expressed his delight with the squad, he admits that, that doesn�t mean they are the finished article just yet, he warned. "It would be a tough competition with every team hungry for the same thing, the title. We can improve and be much better than we are now. We have to prepare well, have good training sessions and approach every game with the same idea of winning. "It important to win. We always have to play to win, score one goal more than the opponent," the Ghana coach said. Stevanovic will gather his squad in South Africa on January 7 and stay there until January 19 before travelling for their Nations Cup campaign. During that period the Black Stars will play top South Africa side Kaizer Chiefs and the Bafana Bafana. Ghana is in group D of the Nations Cup with Botswana, Guinea and Mali.