The 20-year old who at his tender age has already played in two Nations Cup and appeared at two semi finals and a final reckons it is high time Ghana wins another continental title after their last success came in 1982. He was on the losing side as Ghana lost out at the semi final stage of the 2008 tournament and played in the final when the Black Stars missed out to Egypt earlier this year by a lone goal. Dede feels that was more difficult to deal with than failing to reach the semi finals of the World Cup and is determined to get it right in 2012. “For me personally failing to beat Egypt in the final in Angola was more painful and a bigger loss than failing to reach the semi finals of the World Cup,” he told KickOffGhana.com. “We have gone for so long without a title and it is important we break that at some point.” Given Dede’s mindset, the first qualifier in the 2012 tournament has huge significance to him but he is not singing the we must win at all cost tune. “For me the most important thing is that in January 2012 we will be in the Nations Cup whether we start with a win or not. Of course a win helps matters a lot but Sunday will not determine anything.” And Dede hopes the Black Stars will not believe all the hype about how good the team is and fail to deliver on the pitch. “We got a lot of praise after the World Cup but as players we must remind ourselves there is a lot to win. We simply have to understand that the best way to show we are good will be on the field.”
