“Whatever the experts say, the Black Stars are ready. I know pundits are still looking at the failure of the Stars to make it into the knock-out stage in Brazil as a mark of retrogression.
It looks like no one has reckoned with the fact that the Black Stars of Ghana were the only team in the whole of the 32-team set-up in Brazil, which stood up to the tricks and machinations of Germany, the eventual winners of the World Cup.”
After the excitement of an elaborate opening ceremony, and with four matches out of the way, the real circus comes to town this afternoon, with teams in what connoisseurs have described as the Group of Death, testing their strength against each other. The Black Stars of Ghana take on the Terenga Lions of Senegal with the Desert Warriors of Algeria, at 4-1, the hot favourites to lift their second continental trophy in history, playing the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. The two matches are expected to shake the very foundation of the new stadium in Mongomo.
Losing the first game in such a competitive atmosphere has never been the end of the world. There has always been room in the next two matches for the victims in the first encounter to come through. But such is the strengths of all the four teams in action in Group C that failing to get off the mark in the opening game is going to be a great psychological disadvantage. What this means is that whichever side fails in the first hurdle, has to play catch-up. And with the quality on offer, that is going to be a steep mountain to climb.
The main attraction for those of us at the Centre of the Earth at the moment is the first of the two games, featuring the Black Stars, one-time pride of Africa, against the Terenga Lions, possessing one of the most potent strikers in the African game. For the attention of followers of the Black Stars, Referee Bernard Camile of Seychelles Island will direct the game, ably assisted by Peter Edibe of Nigeria, and Hassan Egueh of Djibouti.
This afternoon’s encounter is not only a test case for the Black Stars; the game is going to test the resolve of Coach Avram Grant in African football. With all his international experience, including leading Chelsea to the European Cup finals against Manchester United in Moscow in 2008, the Black Stars manager is new to the cauldron of African football.
This afternoon’s encounter is going to be a baptism of fire for the well-travelled Technical Director of football. His cause has not been helped by the absence of key players for various reasons. Three players Grant would have love to parade this afternoon – Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien and Kelvin-Prince Boateng – are sidelined for disciplinary reasons. They are indicted in the court of public opinion in this country, for bringing the name of Ghana into disrepute during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In addition, midfield dynamo Kwadwo Asamoah has been sidelined by injury. It is the absence of these four key players that has influenced connoisseurs of the game to point to as the reasons why pundits have failed to link the Black Stars to the trophy in Equatorial Guinea. There is a huge question mark too on the man to man the post.
Not many Ghanaians have faith in Fatau Daudu to stop the Senegalese striking trio of red-hot Papiss Cisse of Newcastle, Mame Biram of Stoke City and Chekhou Kouyate of West Ham fame, from breaching his post.
It looks like Avram Grant has settled on Razak Braimah of Mirandes in Spain. The new Ghanaian manager has handed the No.1 Jersey to the goalkeeper who plies his professional trade in Spain. In Ghana though, Razak Braimah remains an unknown quantity, which is why many Ghanaians are not firm in their convictions that that the Ghanaian goal posts would not be breached.
The defence quartet is well established. No Ghanaian has any doubt about the capabilities of Harrison Afful, who is performing day in and day out for Tunisian giants Esperance. John Boye is likely to be at the heart of the defence, though he is more remembered for kissing the pile of dollars trusted into his hands in the infamous money scandal in Brazil than stopping the marauding runs of opponents in the 2014 World Cup.
Ever since John Mensah ended his international carrier, his protégé, Jonathan Mensah, has shored up the defensive frailties in the Black Stars back four. He is not as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar though. He has kept his lines well, and is expected to marshall the defense this afternoon.
The absence of Sulley Muntari and Kwadwo Asamoah would have a telling effect on how the Black Stars gel this afternoon. In Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, Andre Dede Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Albert Adoman or Afriyie Acquah, there is more take on offer, especially, when Christian Atsu and Solomon Asante are on hand as second half substitutes. The Black Stars should have very little problems propelling the midfield.
For all his problems off the field, National Skipper Asamoah Gyan has served the Black Stars well by leading from the front. This nation’s all time top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, is always on hand to deliver. I expect the National Captain to lead from the front, ably supported by Jordan Ayew. The young Ayew has speed and dribbling skill. I expect the handlers to instruct him to keep his head up and look for colleagues in more advantageous positions to be given passes.
Whatever the experts say, the Black Stars are ready. I know pundits are still looking at the failure of the Stars to make it into the knock-out stage in Brazil as a mark of retrogression. It looks like no one has reckoned with the fact that the Black Stars of Ghana were the only team in the whole of the 32-team set-up in Brazil, which stood up to the tricks and machinations of Germany, the eventual winners of the World Cup.
I expect the national team of Ghana to recapture the spirit that enabled them hold Germany to a pulsating 2-2 draw. If they hold their lines well, I expect the Black Stars to get off the mark and send those of us at the Centre of the Earth partying away in the night – Dumso or Dumdum.
On paper, the Desert Warriors of Algeria are red-hot favourites to overcome the challenge of Bafana Bafana. Ranked 18 in the world, and Africa’s current leading national team, the Desert Warriors are 4-1 favourites by bookmakers to lift the trophy. Under the instructions of French tactician, Christian Gourchuit, the Algerian national team is led on the field by Madjed Bougherra, who plays for Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship.
Their turn-out in Brazil, where they got to the one-eighth stage, as well as their almost flawless display in qualifying for Afcon 2015, have combined to convince connoisseurs of the game that Algeria have what it takes to take the trophy on a journey across the Sahara Desert. Football, though, does not follow, which is why South Africa could be in with a shout.
The Bafana Bafana, Algeria’s opponents in this evening’s encounter have invested in the youth since their failure to qualify for the World Cup. They are ranked 52 in the world, and are on 20/1 to lift their second African Cup in history, their first having been recorded on home soil in 1996, when they played host to Africa.
Coach Ephraim Mashaba is reported to be thinking of slotting in Eric Mathalo at the centre back in a 4-4-2 formation with Rivaldo Goetzee, Thabo Mallaba and Thubani Hlatshwayo. The team will march onto the field under the command of skipper Dean Fuman Tekelo, who is based in England with championship side Bournemouth.
Referee Noumandiez Doue of Cote d’Ivoire will direct affairs on the field in this second Group C encounter, assisted on the lines by Songuifolo Yeo of Cote d’Ivoire and Birummashanu of Burundi. Whatever happens in these two opening games, Group C would continue to excite. The Chronicle
