This afternoon, my patriotic self just like any other, Ghanaian was glued to their Television sets to watch the senior national team, BlackStars play against Madagascar at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium, Antananarivo in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers 2023.
The team was coming into this game with the hope of securing passage to the tournament to be staged in Ivory Coast, in 2023 but the odds certainly didn’t go in their favor as they drew goalless to their African opponents.
CHRIS HUGHTON
The game has evolved tremendously in the last few years, the BlackStars of old were known to play in a certain fashion, it was no doubt that they earned the trademark, the Brazilians of African football but those glory days seem far gone if not extinct. The team has undergone so many phases, and transitions, under different coaches and now coach Hughton, who has overseen three games as head coach of the side, it remains early to conclude him as the technical head of the team but it still doesn’t sway the fact that he has a lot of technical writings to imprint on this team. The level of football exhibited by the entire bunch today leaves much to be desired, it’s sad these guys, who play top-level football are unable to string multiple passes, build and sustain an attack and make full use of opportunities when the chance presents its self in the game but it’s not all dark and gloom as its only three games into his mandate as coach of the once shinning Black Stars.
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SET PIECES.
This game was one of few chances, both teams struggled to cut each other open but that said, there were a lot of set pieces, ten set pieces, five corners, and five free kicks, which the boys could have made use of but none of these were taken by them. It leaves a room full of more questions than answers about what these bunches learn at their tactical training sessions because there is absolutely nothing that shows there have been working extremely hard during these sessions before their games.
THE FORWARD LINE
The senior national team needed a win to safeguard their qualification to the AFCON 2023 tournament slated for Ivory Coast. Jordan Ayew was trusted with the singular honor of leading the team in attack. This is a man that largely plays out wide for his club side but plays centrally for the national team, in national-oriented games, he likes to run past the defense and cut inwards which tends to affect the pattern of play for the BlackStars. This means the team will have no one in attack once he drifts out wide, the opposition defenders will be on virtual holiday for that matter a plan that needs re-thinking if this team is meant to produce and score goals in attack. We need a potent attacker and the earlier the handlers of this team realize this the better for us all as a footballing nation as we eye qualification to the next AFCON.
THE DEDE AYEW SYNDROME
If there is anyone that has served the country well in all aspects, Black Star’s captain, Dede Ayew but like every other thing there is a start and finish to it. This young man doesn’t have the energy, or pace to burst past players like old but his experience garnered over the years needs massive commendation now that things have evolved in the last few years. I don’t have a problem with Dede in this setup but I feel that if he has to start or is starting from the bench where is ineffectual after 60 minutes he should be pulled out for fresher, younger and hungrier guys who want to make a mark in this team to prove their worth in the setup. Chris Hughton will have to think to get a lot of things right and this won’t come on a silver platter, he has to proffer solutions to the Dede syndrome, which has eaten into the moral fiber of the team for years now.
AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Chris Hughton admits its a must win for Ghana against Central African Republic
Ghana top the group with nine points after five games but their qualification quest could all crumble to the floor if they fail to nick a win past the Central African Republic in the last game of the qualifying series.
