Two years after a not too-impressive campaign with the Black Stars at the 2006 African Nations Cup, the scales have completely changed for Prince Tagoe with the striker earning himself some praise for his performance lately with the national side.
Tagoe, a late call up into the team for opening match in the Group 5 qualifiers to the 2010 joint African Nations Cup and World Cup campaigns, has put in some exciting performances.
The Al-Ittifaq hit man is next to Junior Agogo – who has scored three times - on the scoring chart having scored twice in four World Cup qualifying games.
Despite his scoring form for his club, the former Accra Hearts of Oak striker believes he has not won himself a regular position in the team as he prepares to get down to work for the last group game against Lesotho on October 11.
Tagoe was included in the 22-man squad and he would have the opportunity to work with new Ghana coach, Milovan Rajevac for the first time.
And the player is not counting on his two goals scored in the qualifiers so far to do him any favours in securing a starting role.
“I would say that I have not really won my position in the team as such, rather, I am contributing my quota to the team so that we would achieve our desired goals,” the player said to www.ghanafa.org.
Tagoe, missed the away clash to Libya which Ghana lost but says the result is typifies what the game represents.
“I can’t really say what happened but I could say that it is one of those things in football.”
Ahead of the more crucial game against Lesotho at the Sekondi Sports Stadium, Prince Tagoe talks about the need to focus on the upcoming match only.
“What we have to do now is to concentrate and prepare for our next game because we are not happy about what happened the last time and we are sure that we would beat them (Lesotho) here,” he said.
Ghana, third on the table plays Lesotho at home in the final Group 5 match with a good win expected to guarantee the Black Stars a place amongst the final 20 teams who would play for the five qualifying spots available to Africa at the 2010 World Cup.
The Black Stars must win the crucial game against Lesotho with an impressive goal margin. Beating Lesotho at home according to the striker requires a unified front, an attribute which he says the Black Stars have.
“What I have noticed in the team currently is that we are united and all that we all fight for is the three points in each game.
“And each and every one plays his part so that we can win; so it doesn’t not really matter about who scores the goals but we have to look at the contribution and how Ghana can progress in the competition.”