“We can go far”: Königsdörffer ready for AFCON

It’s starting to get serious for Ransford Königsdörffer. The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on 13th January and will go on until 11th February. It will be hosted in the Ivory Coast, in five cities and six stadiums. 24 teams will compete in six groups. And the HSV attacker is right in the middle of it, as his Ghana side face Egypt, Mozambique and Cabo Verde in Group B. “I’m really excited for the AFCON and I think we can go far,” said ‘Ransi’, who though clarified: “First of all, it’s about getting past the group stage. That’s what we’re focussing on and only then will we start thinking about going further.”

Ghana’s most recent friendly against Namibia showed that Königsdörffer can take on an important role with the ‘Black Stars’ and in the tournament as a whole. Königsdörffer made his first start for his country and very much impressed in the game against the side coached by HSV fan favourite Collin Benjamin. “I was very pleased with my first start. I had a lot of fun,” said the 22-year-old, for whom it was at the same time “demanding in a way I’m not used to, as the climate and weather conditions are different here.” This is shown by the fact that the daily temperature of the Ivory Coast will sit at between 35 and 38 degrees in the next few days.