Home Comming II

FOR a soccer analyst, last week's double header of internationals both competitive and friendlies- felt like a banquet for kings. Matches were strewn across the globe; from European Cup qualifiers to World Cup qualifiers in South America and finally games by African teams in preparation for the January fiesta in Ghana. England were humiliated in the new house of pain- Wembley. The man whose appointment I opposed from the start was shown the exit but my concentration is on games played by some of the countries that would be making the journey to the land of Gold in January. I would start with everybody's favourite La Cote d'Ivoire. Watching the highlights of their game with Angola, only one thought ran through my mind this is going to be an “interesting” Nations Cup. It was a thrill watching the Angolans draw rings around the Ivorians. They in fact scored all three goals in the game and if that form is maintained, then the predictions I made about them would come to pass.

In the next game, the Ivorians took on a hapless Qatar (ranked 86th in the world). They beat them 6-0 and the chorus began with the great strikers they have in their team. But do the math: Cote d'Ivoire scored six goals in two games against Angola and Qatar. Our own Black Stars also scored six goals in two games against Togo and Benin but we are being told that we can't score goals because we don't have strikers. Another country I followed closely was Senegal. I watched them outclass the Malian team, led 3-1 at a stage and eventually the game ended 3-2. Interestingly, their next game was against Morocco. The Moroccans dominated play (just as they did against Ghana) but this time they beat Senegal 3-0. Nigeria was unimpressive in both games against Austria and Switzerland, losing one and winning the other.

This piece is to assess our national team in terms of our preparedness to host and win the Nations Cup using the 4-nations tournament as a yard stick. I have analysed our game against Togo, thus the concentration would be on the Benin game and what we need to do overall to achieve total victory. Overall, the game against Benin was better than the earlier encounter with Togo. Benin gave us the needed opposition to jolt our team from their comfort zone. If as a team we brushed aside the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Saudi Arabia as a blip, then the Beninois have done us a great service. It reminds me of what the same Benin (as a country) did for us the last time we were preparing for Libya 1982. I have said in this column before that we wouldn't have won the Nations Cup in 1982 had it not been for the SCSA zone III tournament held in Benin just before the Nations Cup. After playing 5-5 and 2-2 draws in our first two games, the team was radically changed for Libya. Our first and second choice goalkeepers Joseph Carr and John Baker had to give way to Michael Owusu Mensah and Sampson Lamptey displaced the established Seth Ampadu at the heart of our defence. The game against Benin had positives and negatives. I would talk about the negatives but for regular readers of this column, I would dwell more on the positives.

Firstly Benin is a technically competent team and any country that underrates them at the CAN would pay dearly. The only problem I have with them is their inability to maintain their composure and discipline for 90 minutes. As it's usual with young and hungry teams, they held their own for a greater part of the game until eventually capitulating. I was so bothered by the lack of discipline (general and tactical) exhibited by our team during the final game. Key players like Michael Essien, John Mensah and Laryea Kingston were an apology of the stars and role models they are supposed to be. Essien should have been sent off by the referee. The skipper Appiah needs to rein them in as soon as possible. For you can have the best team in a tournament but indiscipline can easily bring a team down. Sometimes I pity our national team coach. A section of the media maintains that we have only eleven players and that we don't have a bench. Yet when the coach tries other players, he is accused of experimenting at this late hour. It is really a kind of no win situation. Overall the most important plus is that of character. i.e. the ability to get results even when you are not playing well or when the odds are stacked heavily against you. For the team to have recovered from a 0-2 deficit to win 4-2 shows character and you need that to win a tournament. Now to the player ratings.

Sammy Adjei: Most of us clamoured for the coach to give him playtime. He was too nervous to impress. Lack of confidence in a goalkeeper manifests in poor timing, indecision and generally poor anticipation. He exhibited these traits anytime he was called upon to make a save in the game. It's a bit too late now for him to get more games but the coach /psychologist needs to tune him for the tournament. Moussa Narry (Moses Narh): The decision to use him on the right side of defence was a poor one. For a coach to convert a midfielder to a defender ala Arsene Wenger with the likes of Eboue, he needs more time like a club situation and not a national team set up. It's easier to convert central defenders to lateral defenders and vice versa in a national team. Haminu Draman: He was woeful as a left lateral defender (he conceded a penalty) but he was relatively OK on the right. But his best position is in the midfield where his pace and artistry would come in handy. Kofi Amponsah: He was at fault for the second goal scored by Benin. He recovered and played his part. I believe he should be in the squad for the CAN. John Mensah: He struggled in this game because of the pace of the Benin attackers. He needs to improve his pace if he wants to be one of the best African defenders.

Michael Essien: He was a disappointment in this game. Could hardly cope with the close attention given him by the Beninois midfielders. He lost his cool and control of the game. He was actually better as a central defender. The coach must work on him (i.e. his psyche). Laryea Kingston: The jewel in the crown, the home coming king for the 4 Nations tournament. He is eventually fulfilling the promise he has shown since his U-17 days. Played extremely well and capped it with two well taken goals. Must watch his discipline. Stephen Appiah: Most of his passing went astray and broke the fluidity of the stars attack. The injury lay off is affecting him but he took his goal quite well. Would certainly get better. Sulley Muntari: Had a torrid time in this tournament. Nothing worked for this mercurial midfielder. Needs to improve if the Stars want to win the CAN.

Junior Agogo: The formation isolated him for most part of the game but I still believe in him. His goal was good. Baffour Gyan: His injury was unfortunate and deprived us the opportunity to see more of him. I believe he should make the squad for the tournament. Andre Ayew: He reminds me so much of his father before he left for Europe. I first saw Abedi in 1981 in the FA Cup finals between Hearts and RTU. Andre only needs to improve on his pace and he would be a welcome addition to the squad.

Overall, I think the tournament was worthwhile and is now up to Coach LeRoy to select his squad for the CAN. We shouldn't forget that his selection would have South Africa 2010 in mind. Let's support our team to ensure victory in 2008. Egypt were not the best team in 1996 yet they won the CAN.

Back to my editor.