Ghana’s Black Stars produced a lusterless performance in new Coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor’s first game in charge.
The senior national football team showed little effort as Mali eased to a comfortable and well-deserved 3-0 victory in their friendly encounter, hosted at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey.
The Black Stars looked unprepared and poorly conditioned for the encounter with their Malian counterparts winning every battle on the pitch with cheeky ease.
In the end, the Stars failed to shine and it was the Eagles that flew high in the footballing skies. This was a game Akonnor needed to start well for various reasons. However he failed to get that start for various reasons. And for various reasons (pardon the repetition) the writer has decided to share a few key points based on his observation of the game.
Here below, he shares 5 of them. Enjoy the read.
WHO IS GHANA’S NUMBER 2
Even before his tenure commenced, Ghana had an unresolved goalkeeping situation. It is not really about who starts; as undoubtedly, almost all Ghanaians agree Richard Ofori is an undisputed number one.
Getting a competent and deserving back-up however has been a challenge. Against Mali, Ghana lined-up with Lawrence Ati Zigi in the goal post (in place of Ofori who couldn’t make the trip).
The former WAFA shot stopper was given a rare chance in what was his first start for Ghana since September 2019. It was an opportunity to make a case as to why he deserves more opportunities in between the sticks for the team.
However, his performance does little to back his claim to the number 2 spot and it looks clear Ghana will have to continue the search for an able deputy for Richard Ofori.
The St Gallen goalkeeper could have done better with the first goal and more so the third. Overall, he lacked the usual confidence and composure that Richard Ofori displays. The situation is typical of Adrian standing in for Alisson at Liverpool in the Brazilian’s absence.
Although Ati Zigi made no personal errors leading to goals, his inability to deal with situations that resulted in goals does little to help his case.
As to whether he gets an opportunity to make amends against Qatar remains to be seen, but just as he was given an opportunity, I think Abalora also deserves a chance to prove he’s worth it.
INEFFICIENT FULL-BACKS
All great teams in modern football have had full backs who attack with verve and defend well too. Having at least one full-back who does both is key, but to have both laterals do this, is a blessing.
In Ghana’s case, the above two scenarios remains just a wish. Our full-backs against Mali failed to tick the right boxes (pardon Tarique Fosu for not playing in his more preferred advanced role).
Left-back Gideon Mensah was at fault for the first goal and was also liable for the second as well. In fact, his position became available for exploitation by the Malians who made it count when attacking from there.
It’s not surprising that he was hauled off as Ghana changed the defensive shape to avert further damage by the ever threatening Malians.
An area of the team that needs a critical look is the full-back positions. And Coach Akonnor must act fast.
LEAVE PARTEY TO PARTY AND BABA TO PLAY, FOR NOW
Thomas Partey needed a break. The buzz around his latest move to Arsenal is yet to fizzle out and per his standards, the performance Partey put up clearly shows, his head is already at the Emirates.
He was barely involved in the game and only showed glimpses of what he can do on his day. Its understandable, that in such an instance, he would play to avoid injury and get off to a dream start at his new club, with fans highly expectant of how he helps Mikel Arteta’s project record much progress.
This is more reason, the former Atletico Madrid should have been allowed to rest. Baba Idrissu who had a decent outing for the Stars in the last two games against South Africa and Sao Tome, should have played a part in the game.
Akonnor in my opinion got it wrong here.
NO GYAN, NO GOAL…IT SEEMS
Post Asamoah Gyan, looks less encouraging so far. Jordan Ayew had a great tournament at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Make no mistake, the Crystal Palace, played the best of football at national team level at the tournament. However, Jordan is not your trusted prolific scorer and at a time when the national team wants to phase out Asamoah Gyan –the country’s all-time scorer-, serious attention should be given how the goal scoring responsibility will be shared.
Gyan was Ghana’s main source of goals for most parts of his over 10 year stint with the Stars. His presence alone also did the trick most times when he was not even hitting the target.
In his absence, Jordan has not proven a consistent and most trusted replacement. Make no mistake, Jordan is very good and dangerous attacker, but his game has always been about playing more and not scoring more.
Against Mali, it was evident that Ghana lacked that man upfront to target for goal opportunities. Often times, Jordan drifted deep to make goal scoring opportunities when it should have been the other way round (staying upfront and taking goal scoring opportunities as the farthest man on the pitch for Ghana).
Finding a source of goals should be one of Akonnor’s headaches and he needs a cure for it too.
HONESTLY, WE’RE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH
It gets to stages where brutal honesty is very much necessary. Ghana is at such a stage. We were beaten by a team that has bettered us; most especially at youth level in the last 4-5 years.
Mali has been consistent with their footballing project and almost 90% of the senior squad are players who have been promoted and transitioned into the senior national team in the last 3-4 years.
Ghana’s case is a sad one. Once a reference point for excelling juvenile players who get chances in the senior team (the 2010 squad is a clear example), Ghana has veered off track in this quest and now have to hugely depend on Ghanaian talents developed elsewhere.
The current setup is just not too good enough because they lack the needed experience to perform to expected levels in national colors.
In fact what the team need now is patience and a plan.
C.K. Akonnor needs to come up with how the Black Stars can work this out, or he will somehow have to walk himself out of the picture.
