Is the Black Stars capable of reaching the finals of the 2010 African Cup of Nations? With the way things are moving, the answer to the above question will depend on the players, the technical crew, and the fans.

Kindly allow me to take this opportunity to analyze the match between Ghana and Burkina Faso for us to see whether the team has what is takes to get to the end of the tunnel.

1. Richard Kingston made a spectacular save in the beginning of the game and from there didn’t struggle that much in this game compare to Ivory Coast’s game. What brought the differences between the two matches was mainly the defensive department Milovan applied in yesterday’s game. The back four had the mentality of clearing the balls when there was any danger and closing the gaps when there was any threat. This strategy paid-off to free Richard Kingston.

2. Samuel Inkoom was good yesterday as he did during the Ivory Coast match. He needs to be calmed when he has possession of the ball. Through his accurate crosses, Dede Ayew was able to head one in for the win. If Inkoom could limit his intentions of scoring but rather do what he does best by crossing the balls often, the Black Stars could pull gradual winnings to the finals.

3. “Lord” Hans Adu Sarpie got his position locked down by distracting Burkina Faso's #11 who was a constant threat to the team. Even though, Hans didn’t play as I expected, he still got the job down and that was the most important thing a defender could do in a do or die game as such. Here, the win was the key. Whether the game was scrappy (some fans indicated) or entertaining that was not important. Like one 8yr. old boy said, “whether the big fish swallowed Jonah or Jonah swallowed the big fish,” the key point here is that, “there was a swallow.”

4. Lee Addey did a wonderful job in his position by trying as much as he could to clear the balls. I think we have a replacement for Eric Addo. Eric has served his country diligently, should be rewarded handsomely, and should be allowed to retire internationally because the movement is becoming difficult for him nowadays. There is no need of going back to pin-point his mistakes from the Black Stars’ qualifying match against Benin to the Stars’ group stage match against Ivory Coast, including in-between friendly matches during these past six month period. To me, he has done his best and it is time the coach drops him for a much younger player. No offense.

5. Isaac Vorsah didn't do bad for himself in yesterday’s game. At least, he did what needed to be done to keep the balls away from Burkina Faso’s forward liners. Moreover, he kept controlling the off-side traps which eventually became the tool for the Black Stars in closing the field when Burkina Faso was in possession.

6. Emmanuel Agymang-Badu is one of the young lads I agreed of his inclusion. He is also among the players, to me, needs to be talked to. I don’t know what he thinks the level of this tournament is; however, it is certainly not the Under-20 games. Most often, he tries to shoot from long rage. I don’t know whether his intentions are to score or to pass. From these past two games, his performances from both matches have justified his inclusion as a back-up defensive midfield player incase Anthony Annan is unavailable. He hassles well and determines to win possessions. On the contrary, the more he gives out possessions, instead of distributing the ball among his peers, the more the opponent keeps the pressure on the team. He needs to put an end to that. As a defensive midfielder, it is his responsibility to keep holding on to the ball and distributing it well. Due to Agymang Badu’s constant shootings, he automatically took Kwedwo Asamoah out of the game without knowing it. I’m aware he is learning but needs to try as much as possible to involve his play-maker in the game.

7. Haminu Drammani missed too many chances in yesterday’s game and should as well be talked to. In his case, more diagonal passes would have helped to feed the attackers. For him to get the ball at right-wing and wanted to score, it is possible, contrary, not advisable. It is not a good practice because leading by 1 goal isn't much for a player to keep messing up. In all, he did well during the first half, but slacked in the second half; even though, I hate to say.

8. Kwedwo Asamoah was taking from the game because of the team’s constant long range ball passes. There was nothing he could have done in this case.

9. Matthew Amoah needs a replacement if only we will be honest to ourselves. Even if he gets clean, clear chances, he still hits off target. The Black Stars game against Ivory Coast, for instance, was an evidence of his hard word, Opps my bad, inaccuracy. He had a chance in the 18 yard and still missed his mark like it happened in yesterday’s game. He has done well for the country but it is about time Milovan starts with Adiyia before Matthew Amoah upon all his experience. I hope I didn’t hurt anyone by telling the truth.

10. Asamoah Gyan has two problems, he fakes too much and off target most often. One thing baffles me when talking about Asamoah Gyan, though, is how well he plays in his club. Believe it or not, Gyan is a threat to his opponents in the league; on the contrary, when it comes to national assignments, such quality is hardly seen. Why is it that? Any way, he is still nursing an injury so let us give him the benefit of the doubt.

11. Dede Ayew's character yesterday reminded me of his days as the captain to the Under-20 team. I usually criticize him for his elementary styles, which I saw few in the Burkina Faso’s match, but it was lesser than usual. Dede did very well with his forcefulness and his dying hard attitude. His weakness is basically the fans. When the fans are on his side, he is okay which motivate him to come back to support his full-backs, but when the fans are not, he tends to lower the shoulders.

Another A. Ayew’s obstacle, sometimes when he beats an opponent and needs to release the ball before receiving it back again, he usually wants to beat that same player a second time before passing. To me, if it is relevant to dribble before giving out the ball, there is nothing wrong with doing so but be careful. When a player is beat, and the fans a shouting, due to humiliation, that player usually comes back with bad intentions. Football is a team work. Therefore, the ball should be distributed among your colleagues. That frees your team members whilst confuses the opponent. He is learning, so will need more time to grow in the game, I hear you!

Coach Rajevac Milovan needs to know when his team is not puling all the strengths it needs to win. When it comes to that, changes need to be made and he shouldn't be afraid to do so. Matthew Amoah, as I indicated earlier, wasn't playing well since the beginning of the game but was still kept till almost the end. A coach has to have the vision to see whether a player is a weight or a wing to the team? In other words, whether a player is helping the team to move forward or pulling the team backwards?

As I mentioned, Adiyia came in too late and so did Opoku Agyman who didn't do well in the first game.

Learning is good and I hope these young lads are getting something good from the opportunities given to them.

Now, the real test is coming our way. In the quarter-finals it will be Ghana vs. Angola on Sunday, 17:00 at the capital city, Luanda, whilst Ivory Coast will host Algeria on the same day but 20:30 at Cabinda.

Angola doesn't have that much of a quality team comparing to Ivory Coast. Both Burkina Faso and Angola should be rated the same with the exception of Angola's goal hunter, Flavio. Though he is short, he can jump and that makes him a very dangerous player in the air. Manucho, on the other hand, is not that much of a threat as he was during the 2008 Nations’ Cup.

There are only two dangerous teams in this tournament and they are Ivory Coast and Egypt. From my stand point, since we have defeated Burkina Faso, we have the chance not to meet any of the tougher nations mentioned till the finals.

Therefore, it is possible that the New Black Stars could make it to the finals of this tournament and the reason follows.

After Angola in Luanda, against the host, the next opponent for the Black Stars would be one of the 28th match teams, which could probably be either Nigeria or Gabon in the semi-finals before meeting the last team standing from these four nations, Algeria/Ivory Coast and Egypt/ Cameroon in the finals.

If Ghana ends up with Nigeria in the semi-finals as predicted, well, we all know how hype the match would become. Even though, the Nigerians have been our wives for so long now and even thinking of having second wives, they will try as much as they could to dispute that polygamy act.

Systematically, the Black Stars is moving forward, however, will depend on the playing body including the technical team, and the fans, to decide how far the team could be able to reach.

In all things, get understanding, get wisdom.

Ransford Peprah (Sports Analyst/Editor)

Rnsfdpeprah@yahoo.com

http://www.africaonline24.com