OPINION: It was Not That Bad...

I spent Sunday evening at a friend house watching Ghana’s defeat at the hands of Egypt in a friendly match. The commentary was in Arabic and since I’m not very familiar with the faces of the local players, it will be hard to give an evaluation of individuals. I’ll rather comment on the team as a whole.

The result flattered Egypt. The Slack stars – as our Nigerian brothers like to call them - were not that bad and Osam may not be quite as clueless as we sometimes paint him, but it remains the case that, were he to go missing this week, the first place the search party would look is the remedial ward at the World Academy of Football Tactics.

Success would be delicious, of course, and cannot be ruled out completely (weak teams can be forged into strong ones in the heat of a tournament), but the form book and all other known factors suggest that Ghana will struggle to qualify for the Quarter-finals come Mali 2002.

For once, Osam got it right playing midfielders who moved forward, as opposed to passing the ball aimlessly around. The midfield was quite effective in attack, as they produced several chances for the attackers. However, they failed to fall back quickly enough when needed.

In spite of some brilliant last minute interceptions, our defenders were the weakest link. Based on this match, we need a new set. Mis-kicks, Mis-directed passes, mis-whatever were the hallmarks of these so-called defenders. Both goals were avoidable.

The strikers had an awful game. They had 4 clear chances and several 50-50 chances, but could not get even a single goal. #21 was the main culprit. He came in for an injured player and Osam will do well to keep him on the bench. Derek Boateng was Ok, but probably had a bad day.

Let’s play everyone's favorite footballing amusement, the 'If Game'

If our defense is completely revamped;

If Osam accepts the fact that he’ll not win an empty milk tin with 5ft 6in defenders. FACT: the average height of defenders of teams that has won the nations cup or world cup in the last 20 years is 1.82 (5ft 10in).

If Ibrahim Razak, who impressed me, spends less time “romancing” the ball.

If Ibrahim and Essien are joined in the midfield by a more experienced player;

If Osam finally accepts that Turkish league is a competitive one and thus he needs to look there for some answers to pressing questions.

If (and I know we're straying into controversial land here, but let's have some fun) Ibrahim Dossey, Sam Johnson, Akonnor, Stephen Baidoo & Ahinful are recalled. They can be used as substitutes.

… And if Osam persists with this more fluid, adaptable system, there is every prospect of going beyond the quarterfinals, and even of getting to the finals with an outsider's chance.

Back in the real world, it all looks very far away on the other side of an enormous minefield. But at least there is today the faint stirrings of long term hope, and that is a great deal more than anything Osam had contrived until now to give Ghana any realistic hope against the best in Africa.

It may be a shade early for the curator at the Accra sports stadium trophy room to start fretting unduly about where he hid the key 20 years ago, but something significant may have happened, the stars lost fighting and that should give us some hope.

PS: I just read Egypt lost to Mali at the same venue by 2-1.