Ghanaian journalist Stephen Adjetey Abban, popularly known as Gabs, says the intense reactions that follow major Black Stars tournaments reflect a long-standing emotional pattern rather than a lack of patriotism.
Reacting to the 2026 World Cup draw, he noted that the immediate wave of gloomy predictions is nothing new.
According to him, generations of supporters have developed a habit of publicly predicting failure even while privately maintaining deep affection for the team. He argues that many who claim indifference actually follow every match with loyalty.
“These same critics are glued to their screens when the Black Stars play, celebrating the team’s victories with vim,” he wrote.
Gabs observed that the roots of this behaviour stretch back to early 2000s tournaments, where expectations repeatedly clashed with painful eliminations.
He said the disappointment of the 2000 AFCON, followed by the turbulence around the 2002 campaign, created a culture of guarded optimism that has persisted ever since.
Supporters “resurrect their warnings” whenever defeats happen, he added, creating a cycle where fans alternate between pessimism and passion.
He emphasised that this dynamic does not reflect disloyalty, but rather the emotional investment of supporters who have endured dramatic highs and lows.
From the heartbreak of the 2008 AFCON to recent World Cup frustrations, he described the relationship as a lifelong attachment. “For the Black Stars and their fans, it has always been a love-hate affair,” he noted.
Gabs believes this duality, public criticism but private devotion—is what makes Ghanaian football culture unique, and why emotions swing so sharply before every major tournament.
