The Ambassador of France to Ghana, Her Excellency Diarra Dimé-Labille, has expressed confidence in the Black Challenge’s ability to win the World Cup, urging the team to remain focused and receive the necessary support ahead of the competition.
She made the remarks during a visit to the team’s camp at Mendiata Hotel in Accra, where she praised the players for their commitment and described them as a source of national pride.
“I think that Ghana can be proud of the team,” she said.
The French Ambassador stressed the importance of teamwork and proper preparation, noting that individual talent alone was not enough to achieve success at the highest level.
“You can have a lot of very talented players individually, but you absolutely need to train the team together,” she said.
She also called for the challenges surrounding the team’s preparations, including training and travel arrangements, to be addressed to allow the players to concentrate on their World Cup campaign.
The Ambassador expressed optimism about Ghana’s chances at the tournament, saying she was confident the Black Challenge could emerge as champions.
“I am going to bet that you are going to be the next World Cup champion,” she told the players.
She further expressed interest in attending one of the team’s future matches in Accra and wished the players well in their preparations.
Beyond football, the Ambassador highlighted the importance of promoting disability inclusion, saying Ghana and France could learn from each other’s experiences in building more inclusive societies.
“We can learn from Ghana, and Ghana can also learn from what we are doing in France to make our society more inclusive,” she said.
She also commended President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana, Samson Deen, for his commitment to the development of Paralympic sports and his efforts to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
In response, Deen thanked the Ambassador for her encouraging words and commitment to supporting inclusive sports.
He said the Ambassador’s message recognised both the players’ talent and the practical support they needed to succeed.
Deen also welcomed the prospect of cooperation between Ghana and France in areas such as inclusive sports, coaching and athlete development.
He described the Black Challenge players as ambassadors of determination and possibility who deserved recognition, respect and equal opportunities to excel.
The visit brought renewed encouragement to the team, with the French Ambassador urging that the necessary support be provided to help the players prepare adequately and pursue their World Cup ambitions.
