AFCON 2015: Five things we learnt from Ghana’s defeat to Senegal
By Rahman Osman
Follow on twitter @iamrahmanosman
After the dust has settled on another disappointing performance from the Black Stars, let’s look at what the game taught us.
THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND IS TO ATTACK.
Unlike the usual 3-5-2 formation that was deployed and served Holland very well at the world cup where wing backs press forward, our wingbacks were stationed at the back with few forward movement, making the team too defensive ….more like 5-3-2 instead, Grant for all his experience would realize that no formation is either right or wrong but the ability of the team to understand and play to the requirement is paramount. From the game yesterday the understanding of the 3-5-2 is still far fetched.
CAMPING IN SPAIN HAD A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE TEAM.
Coming in to the game it was clear that the better prepared team was Senegal, when Ghana was playing against second tier sides in Portugal, Senegal tested their mettle against better oppositions in Gabon and Guinea no wonder Rabiu Mohammed and Agyemang Badu could only survive for 30 minutes after that, Shieke Kouyate took over the heart of the game, the midfield and the rest was history.
Africa football has a physical edge in it and it was always going to expose us at a certain point.
GRANT GOT ALL HIS SUBSTITUTIONS ALL WRONG.
Jordan Ayew kept in one of his most industrious game for the Stars and was unfortunate not to come off the game with at least an assist only if Atsu got his body position right after being played in delightfully by Jordan but it was clear he needed help upfront in the second half after Atsu had faded off. Wakaso for Atsu represented a defensive approach and content for a draw, Rabiu Mohammed for Afriyie Acquah was like for like and Ayew for Accam the only attack minded change but that should have been the first call. Football has grown to the point that timing is very important and your cards determine if you win, draw or lose. On the day Alain Giresse was more purposeful and audacious with his cards.
GYAN WAS DEEPLY MISSED.
When the team sheets were finally out without Africa’s highest goal scorer at the world cup and Ghana’s most reliable source of goals it was clear we were going to struggle in front of goal, we have always struggle without Gyan but the way and manner we struggled to even hold up the ball and wait for midfielders to join the attack was alarming. Jordan for all his talent doesn’t have the physical attributes to hold up the ball and how well Gyan would have held on to the ball, Grant and his medics will have to work round the clock to get him back in that must win against Algeria.
JONATHAN MENSAH’S INCONSISTENCY IS A COURSE OF CONCERN.
For years Jonathan Mensah has been touted as the natural successor to John Mensah and after two world cup experiences and a couple of Africa cup of nations he is still not looking the real deal, he was clumsy against Senegal lost the ball in dangerous areas and failed to hold the back line together. The most experienced in the three back set up more will be required of the Evian man against Algeria.
Share your comments in the space proved below of what you also thought went wrong for the team
Readers Comment
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forever frank
9 years ago
Coaches should stop the wrong substitution of Rabiu mohamed.
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maubs
9 years ago
Sometimes to be a winner means learning to accept defeat gracefully however painfull it might be. The truth as i see it is this and i hope grant notes it too, some of the bs youngmen are some of the most talented players ever to festure for bs but hey ho they are not great as competitors, some are content to be benched consitently with their clubs despite their considerable talent, and have their minds on things other than football like the next transfer to arab of usa. It is refreshing to see Grant try out something different but untill we approach the u23 platform with tactical and more seriousness in terms of player call ups etc and as the place to try to give ready for bs players their chance to learn to be competitive we will have hyped up bs players with talent but no competiveness where recieving bonus a day before a game that can earn them career changing and life changing moves is more important than the game in hand. All is not lost though. We have had too many injuries going into this afcon. We must still believe with two more games to go. We lost to usa in time added on and lost to senegal in time added on so thats definitely some food for thought going into the next game about the temperament of certain players who take starting and their position in bs for granted. Focus guys focus and we will yet get through and get better for the experience. GoBs Go. Go bs go. God bless ghana our only motherland
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Hahagbe
9 years ago
Do not deceive yourself. Our team is below average. Midfields win games in current football. There was no midfield to give the incisive passes to the forward men. The back was equally porous. No expectations from this performance. ONLY A MIRACLE would save us.
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francis obeng
9 years ago
The physicality was missing.We should have used the physical Otoo as a striker in a 4-1-4-1 formation supported by andre ,Jordan,Wakaso and Agyeman Badu.
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Amoration
9 years ago
Tweaaa that is it. A foolish man who determin the depth of a river with both his legs will end up drawning. why did we chose to camp in europe. Hmm the answer is ignorance. we were going to an AFCONs tournament to play against some African teams. But why did we chose to play our warm up friendle matches against european teams. hmmm the answer is stupidity. why did we chose to appoint avram Grant as head couch when there was very little time for him to get to know our team well. the answer is foolishness. And why can't we screen our players for any disease before sending them to the tournament hmmm somebody answer this for me. my heart is sick with grief for my beloved nation. Allah save us.
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Roy
9 years ago
All i can see in ghana football is dat some people r making business out of the team and leaves the poor ghanaian to suffer and wonder wat is wrong.the anwers lies on da ministry and da fA....
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