By ameenu Shardow
Kwadwo Asamoah has welcomed the enormous pressure on the Black Stars occasioned by the heightened expectation to win the 2013 Nations Cup.
Ghana will be chasing its first African title in 31-years by the time the tournament kicks off early next year in South Africa.
The Black Stars since winning the 1982 edition of the AFCON have only impressed to depress.
The closest Ghana has come to winning it was in 1992 where Côte d'Ivoire nicked it after a marathon penalty shootout.
And as the next edition approaches in South Africa where the Black Stars are drawn in the same group as Mali, Niger and DR Congo, the fans' expectations are again rife over Ghana’s chances.
This has cranked up the pressure on the team even before the competition begins on January 19.
But the Juventus midfielder says the players understand the plight of the expectant Ghana fans and will thus do their best to make them happy.
"I am not surprised because every fan would like to win something for their country, so for me the expectation is normal," he said.
"For us, the players, it has to motivate us to say 'okay our country needs this so we have to work and push hard to win it and bring the cup home.
"So I agree with the mentality of the fans. It will motivate us to do our best."