Six straight African Cup of Nations semifinal appearances, and still no trophy. It must be bad luck, according to the Ghana FA.

Its head of communications certainly feels that way. Ibrahim Sannie Daara reckons Lady Luck is not helping Ghana, who have changed coaches five times over that six-tournament period. This time, it was eventual champions Cameroon who kicked the West Africans out, in a repeat of the 2008 semifinal.

Expectations were high after the 2015 edition which saw the team lose the trophy narrowly on penalties coupled with the fact that pre-tournament favourites Senegal and Algeria had been knocked out during the group stages.

The hopes of Ghanaians did not materialize but the communications director is of the view the team did not do badly. “Though this was not the kind of performance we all expected I still think the team did not do bad, it is the matter of fortune,” he said.

"Luck was not on our side. Even some big African teams with world class players could not excel in the competition. Senegal, Algeria, Ivory Coast could not excel and these were team’s tipped to win the competition."

“DR Congo is a top side in Africa and we were able to beat them. The Black Stars could not qualify for the World Cup during my time as a journalist but the team has been consistently at the competition in the past few years.”

As it is, Ghana would have to wait another two years, making 37 in all at least, before a trophy comes into the nation.