Ghana assistant coach Kwesi Appiah has rubbished claims by Stephen Keshi that the Black Stars have no chance of winning the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Keshi claims their West African rivals lack the requisite experience to be crowned champions.
But Appiah, a former Ghana captain, has poured cold water on the assessment by the former Nigeria captain insisting the Black Stars have a good chance.
"In the first place everyone has their right to air their opinions. In one way I see him (Keshi) as saying that we don't have big name players," Appiah told Asempa FM.
"The fact that we don't have big-name players doesn't mean that we can't excel at the Africa Cup of Nations and win the tournament.
"These kinds of statements challenge our players to play above themselves and prove that big names don't play football but your talent and ability to fight on the pitch will determine the result."
Appiah says the Black Stars are being considered as one of the favourites because they have retained most of the playersa who helped the squad to reach the final of the 2010 Nations and quarter final of the World Cup.
"If you look at our team you will see that most of the players we took to the Nations Cup in 2010 that reached the final are still in the team," Appiah said.
"These were the same team and players and the only African team that reached the quarter final of the 2010 World Cup and most of them are part of the squad.
"I believe that the level of play is the same. I believe that our players are equally good as the Drogbas and the rest.
"I rate players like Asamoah Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew and the rest are in the same category and this statement will only spur us on to prove our critics wrong.
"We have to train hard to ensure that we are fully prepared to face our opponents in top form."
Ghana have been tagged as a potential candidate to win the 2012 finals after impressing in major international tournaments.
The Black Stars are in Group D alongside Botswana, Mali and Guinea.
Source: MTNFootball.com