Since Ghana's last Africa Cup of Nations success, every Black Stars team have something to prove to the nation, says midfielder Derek Boateng on the eve of another Cup campaign.
The nation has endured a long wait since 1982 but the Black Stars have recently come very close, always making it to the semi-finals in the last three editions of the continent's flagship competition.
Ghana picked up bronze in 2008, were silver medalist two years after and finished fourth at the 2012 competition. The frustration continues to linger on for a nation used to just success but Boateng says they are not giving up.
“To be honest, when it comes to our nation, we are not tired,” Boateng told www.ghanafa.org.
“We are always ready for the nation. We want to win something and this is the time for us to do something for the nation and for ourselves.”
As the 2013 finals gets underway in South Africa this weekend, Boateng and his latest band of Black Stars players know what is expected of them back home. To win the title.
“We want to write our names in the history books and we know we have to work really hard. Nothing good comes easy.
“It’s going to be a long way but all the same, but we are ready. We’ve been training hard.”
The quest for a fifth Nations Cup title begins on Sunday for Ghana who take on DR Congo in Group B.
“We are looking forward to the game,” the midfielder said.
“We have only one thing, to win the game. We want to take one game at a time; it is going to be a long way, it is going to be a difficult tournament but we are ready.
“We’ve been working really hard from Abu Dhabi up to here, so we are looking forward to the game on Sunday.”
Boateng is one of the most experienced members of the squad, having started his Nations Cup campaign in 2002.
Though he counts himself very privileged to be part of the Black Stars and enjoying the healthy competition in the squad, Boateng hopes for some luck to smile at Ghana.
“There is very strong motivation in camp and discipline. Everything is moving well and there’s competition in training,” he said.
“Everybody wants to be in the first eleven, that’s very good. I like competition. Everything you do in life, you need luck and I know God is on side, we are going to do our best on Sunday.”