Gyan-Warris partnership blossoming
In recent years, Ghana has gone into major tournaments with Asamoah Gyan as the main striker, or with a different strike partner each time. The likes of Matthew Amoah, Junior Agogo and Prince Tagoe have all come and gone, leaving the Baby Jet to carry the striking burden. The captain has led the line superbly, and fortunately for Ghana, he has almost always been available. Now it seems he has finally found a partner to shoulder the burden: Adbul Majeed Warris.
The Spartak Moscow striker, who has been in superb form for the national team ever since his call-up looks as though he is going to be a regular feature for the near future. His pace and skill complement Gyan’s hold-up play, and now the captain can go about his business with the assurance that there is someone upfront to finish off chances.
Essien continues to prove his worth
Still think he is finished? Doubters of Michael Essien can feast on some humble pie, as the ‘bison’ once again produced another superb performance for the Black Stars, the likes of which we have come to know he can. His bursting run and great display of skill to beat the Egyptian defense for the second goal was a joy to watch.
It makes you wonder why Jose Mourinho continues to place him on the bench at Chelsea. Ghanaians will be hoping he can maintain his fitness levels. A fit and fiddle Michael Essien will be a great asset for Ghana at the World Cup.
Strength in depth
As Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and Andre Ayew made way for Mubarak Wakaso, Agyeman Badu, and Christian Atsu respectively, you could not help but admire the immense quality of players that Ghana featured on its bench. Wakaso, Badu and Atsu were players that featured prominently in the African Cup of Nations earlier in the year.
It’s amazing how far the Black Stars have come in this regard. Gone are the days where the team had to depend on the eleven set of players it had to win games. The current crop of Black Star players is a good mixture of experience and youth, as the former serves as a marker for the latter to follow, and this bodes well for Ghana.
Doubts over Dauda’s competence
Before the beginning of the game, questions were asked over who will be in goal, with the return of Richard Kingson to the team fold. Kwasi Appiah decided to stick with current number one Fatau Dauda. Doubts have always lingered over Dauda’s competence as number one, and he did nothing to quell those doubts on Tuesday.
In the few times that the Egyptians threatened, especially from set pieces, Dauda was not assured in coming out to punch balls balls away from goal and hesitated in decision-making. On another day, the Black Stars would have been duly punished. Fortunately, they got away with it. Appiah must make a decision on Dauda, who cannot get a game for his current club .
End of an era for Egypt?
How have Egypt managed to miss the last five editions of the World Cup? For a team who were regarded as powerhouses of African football as they swept all before them up until 2010, it’s amazing how they never managed to qualify for the global tournament in that space of time.
Their match-up with Ghana offered a last chance for the likes of Aboutreika to get the opportunity to show off their skills on the world stage, but now it looks an impossible task. It is a sad end to an era for Egypt’s golden generation; giants of Africa, unrecognized on the globe.
Allsportsgh
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