Football
Exclusive: Danlad Ibrahim Reflects on His Black Stars Journey and Crucial AFCON Qualifiers
Ghanaian goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim shares insights on his journey with the Black Stars, his thoughts on Ghana's AFCON qualifiers, and his hopes for the national team’s future success.
Ghana FA
As Ghana looks ahead to their final two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, one player who has been part of the Black Stars' recent journey is Danlad Ibrahim.
Though still available for selection, the young goalkeeper was not called up for the national team’s latest international window. Despite his absence from the squad, Danlad Ibrahim continues to share the same goals and objectives as the players currently involved.
In this exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, the former Asante Kotoko goalkeeper opens up about his experiences with the national team, reflecting on the pride and responsibility of representing Ghana at every level.
He also shares his thoughts on the current squad and offers his expectations as they face Angola and Niger in their final qualifying games.
National Call-Ups from the Local League
Danlad Ibrahim, like his fellow goalkeeper Frederick Asare, who also earned call-ups to the Black Stars from the Ghana-based club Asante Kotoko, has had the privilege of representing Ghana on a few occasions.
Both players, having risen through the domestic ranks, share similar paths to the national team, yet each has had a distinct journey.
Reflecting on his own experiences with the Black Stars, Danlad speaks not only about his time with the squad but also his close relationship with Asare, who has become both a teammate and a friend during their time together at Asante Kotoko.
“I and Frederick Asare are like brothers, teammates, and friends. We discuss our careers and everything. When he was getting called up, I always advised him based on the experience I got from the national team. He has been doing so well, and I am proud of him,” Danlad told SportsBoom.com.
Despite receiving several call-ups to the national team, the 21-year-old is yet to make his debut for the Black Stars, as other goalkeepers have consistently been selected ahead of him.
Asked how he has coped with these situations, Danlad responded: “It is normal; it is part of our development. Every stage of my journey is a learning process because I have a lot to learn. I wasn’t bothered by the lack of playing time; I was just happy to get the call-up to the national team.”
I am still young; I know my time will come. In the meantime, I’m working hard to improve and get ready for whenever the opportunity presents itself
Danlad Ibrahim
Ghana’s Qualifier Struggles
Ghana has failed to win any of their last four matches in the AFCON Qualifiers and is now on the brink of missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.
With their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, the Black Stars now need Sudan to lose both of their remaining games to stay in contention. Ghana’s fate is no longer in their hands, as Sudan only requires a single point from their final two matches to secure qualification alongside Angola from their group.
Discussing the situation, Danlad Ibrahim acknowledged the difficulties Ghana currently faces and urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the national team to help them bounce back and restore the glory days.
“The situation we find ourselves in right now is very difficult, but we shouldn’t give up. I urge the fans not to turn their backs on the national team; they should continue supporting us.
In life, every experience is a learning process, and they should keep supporting the team and praying for us.
Danlad Ibrahim
Ghana’s AFCON Chances
Sudan will take on Niger before Ghana travels to face Angola. If Sudan secures a point in their upcoming match, Ghana's final game against Angola will effectively become a meaningless fixture, as it would eliminate any chance of the Black Stars qualifying for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Danlad Ibrahim believes the Black Stars should focus on securing victories in both games, viewing them as a potential turning point for the team's future success.
“Anything can happen in football, but the focus should be on winning the two remaining games. If we qualify, fine, but if we don’t, we still have to win the next two games. We should not focus on qualification since it is out of our hands now; we just have to win against Angola and Niger,” Danlad Ibrahim told SportsBoom.com.
Missing out on the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations would be a major setback for Ghana, a nation that has consistently qualified for the tournament in recent years.
The final two matches against Angola and Niger could play a crucial role in shaping the team's momentum as they prepare for the World Cup qualifiers next year.
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