AFCON

AFCON 2023 Qualifiers : Five things we learned from the BlackStars game

Published

3 years ago

June 19, 2023

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.

U-23 AFCON: Black Meteors to face Zamalek in pre-tournament friendly on Tuesday

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.

AFCON

AFCON 2025Q : Otto Addo considers Andre Ayew important to BlackStars

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo holds the firm belief that Andre Ayew has a crucial role to play in his setup despite his omission from the squad.

Otto Addo named his 23-man squad for the doubleheader against Angola and Niger, notably missing from the squad list was clubless, Andre Ayew for the second time running.

“Andre Ayew is a good player, but at the moment, he is not here. He doesn’t have a club, but nobody knows the future,” said the coach.

“If he gets a club and performs and scores 20 goals, maybe he can return because we are building something for the future.” He ended.

The team will be at home at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to clash with Angola on September 5, 2024, and four days later with Niger in Morocco.

AFCON

“If I am convinced I will call you” – Otto Addo on Ghana Premier League players

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has explained the rationale for selecting just one player from the Ghana Premier League ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.

Announcing his squad for the games shows visibly that one player from the domestic league made the squad, goalkeeper, Fredrick Asare.

This has drawn widespread discontent amongst football people who are of the view that other players who impressed in the just-ended 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League should have been given a fair opportunity.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT :

Speaking to pressmen about the squad announcement, coach Otto Addo disclosed that he would only call the best once he was convinced.

“I think it is not easy. I said last time we would watch the Ghanaian Premier League. It’s tough and I know if I leave a player out there will be questions,” he said.

“But at the moment for me, it is not about the Ghana Premier League, French Ligue 1, or the EPL or Bundesliga, it is about the players and we need the best players to qualify for the World Cup. I don’t care, if I am convinced I will call you,” he added.

https://twitter.com/SaharaFootball/status/1829136206892019852

The team will be at home at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to clash with Angola on September 5, 2024, and four days later with Niger in Morocco.

AFCON

AFCON 2023 : Baba Rahman withdraws from BlackStars squad

Published

3 years ago

January 1, 2024

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Ghana defender Baba Rahman recused himself from the Black Stars ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

According to the informed Greek-based defender, his withdrawal from the squad is factually based on football reasons and has nothing to do with the incessant boos he suffered from the fans whiles playing for the BlackStars back in September.

He posted on his official Twitter handle that past injury struggles were consistent with the

Rahman tweeted, “Playing for my country will always be the highest point of my career, and every time I have been lucky to wear the shirt, I have given my all.” Acknowledging the challenges of injury and recovery, he highlighted the importance of making tough calls for the benefit of both the national team and his career’s longevity.

Hear me out:

I just wanted to say that decision to opt out of the AFCON was solely based on footballing reasons and nothing else.

Playing for my country will always be the highest point of my career and everytime I have been lucky to wear the shirt I have given my all.

The… pic.twitter.com/qv3itU5uCF

— baba abdul-rahman (@babarahmangh) January 1, 2024

The final list saw players such as captain, Andre Ayew Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams, Daniel Amartey, Richard Ofori, and Mohammed Salisu.

Deputy captain of the BlackStars deputy Thomas Partey was also left out of the final list as well as Fatawu Issahaku.

But to people’s surprise, Bernard Terkpetey, Bernard Mensah, Alfred Duncan, and Jeffrey Schlupp should have made the provisional squad list to talk off the final list.

The local league managed to get a look in from the technical handlers of the BlackStars as Richmond Lamptey’s impressive performance went unnoticed, Medeama duo Fatawu Hamidu and striker Jonathan Sowah.

The squad will begin camping in Kumasi on January 2 and play Namibia on January 8, 2024.

The Black Stars have been housed in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

AFCON

AFCON 2023: CK Akonnor rallies support for Chris Hughton

Published

3 years ago

December 13, 2023

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Former Black Stars head coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor, has rallied for support for Chris Hughton ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In the last few weeks, Hughton had come under incessant pressure from several quarters within the Ghanaian landscape for failing to grind the results for the country.

On the back of two consecutive international friendly losses against Mexico and the United States of America, the results have been dire in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

In two games, he won one against, Madagascar and lost one to Comoros.

Despite the inconsistencies in results and the failure of Hughton to impose his football culture on the team, Akonnor is optimistic that the BlackStars coach will get things should he be given the needed time, patience, and support.

“I know what he is going through. It’s a difficult time. Sometimes, you can get confused especially when the whole nation comes at you,”

“We need to be calm. There is a need for calmness to prepare well, get focused, and have a strategy for going into this tournament.

“It’s a big deal for us as a football nation but we need to calm down and allow him to prepare the team adequately so we can go to this tournament and do well.”

Black Stars is housed in a tricky group with Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.

The 2023 AFCON is scheduled to come off on January 13 to February 11, 2024.