Ghana players arrived home on Monday afternoon to heroes welcome despite failing to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars were met at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra by hundreds of fans who were impressed with the team’s display in Equatorial Guinea.
Ghana overcame an opening 2-1 defeat to Senegal to reach the final of the tournament and missed out on lifting the trophy after losing 9-8 on penalties to Ivory Coast.
Majority of the players are expected to fly out to join their European clubs on Tuesday night for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s President John Mahama has congratulated the team for a “gallant performance” in spite of losing on penalties to the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
The Sunday match was the finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Bata, Equatorial Guinea that the Ivoirians won 9-8.
In a consolation message to the Stars shortly after the game, the President wrote on his twitter account: “Kudos #BlackStars. Gallant performance despite our loss.
“You exceeded our expectations, going from zero to heroes. I am proud of you.”
Fans have been expressing their disappointment at the loss, with many of them calling into radio stations, describing it as “heart-breaking” and “painful”.
They are, however, hopeful that the team would build on this performance under the new coach, Avram Grant, and win laurels in the near future.
In a repeat of the 1992 finals in Dakar, Senegal, Ghana lost 9-8 on penalties to the Ivorians who have now won their second ever AFCON trophy.
The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes.
“We are disappointed but let’s give thanks to God for what He has done for us,” one fan said on a radio phone-in.
“It is a repetition of Senegal ’92, but the Black Stars gave it their all.”
The Ghanaian capital, Accra, went silent after Ivorian veteran goalkeeper, Boubacar Barry, 35, saved the kick of his opposite number, Razak Braimah, and converted his kick.
Black Stars fans were cold at the beginning of the tournament, given the poor performance and indiscipline of the team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
But they livened up as the competition progressed and threw their weight behind the team.
For many fans, it was not a bad 2015 but the trophy drought continues as Ghana’s last AFCON triumph was in Libya in 1982.
Additional reports by: PANA/NAN.