The Black Stars, after yesterday's disappointment
against Senegal, have a letter in their mail. Have a
read:
Guys...
Excuse me, please, for my inability to send you a
message ahead of your first game at the ongoing
Nations Cup.
You see, I've mostly been on the 'dum' end of ECG's
see-saw of power supply during the past few days
and thus couldn't find a reliable means of writing to
you.
But, with the benefit of hindsight, it's just as well I
didn't waste time to pen anything. Given your
opening performance against Senegal yesterday, it
certainly would have been a waste of my resources.
The first half was solid enough. You held your own
against the Wolof boys and even took a fine lead.
But then came 48 minutes which saw you huff and
puff in futility. Until the last second of the game, I
actually dreaded we'd lose. And then, when that
'last second' literally came, we did lose, courtesy
Moussa Sow's late finish.
Generally, there was everything wrong with the
display you put up. It just wasn't what we're used
to. Ghana never sit deep and play like a cornered
Jose Mourinho team, even if we're playing Pep
Guardiola's Barcelona. We switch on the 'agoro' any
day, rain or shine. Yet, here you were, allowing
yourself to be bullied by the opposition, and failing to
keep a clean sheet for the umpteenth game in
succession.
Outplayed, outscored, and outmuscled.
Granted, Harrison Afful and Momo Rabiu whacked
down a few of the Senegalese, but Jordan Ayew, for
one, took quite a beating.
In the layman's opinion - and I am, above all, a
layman - it was all down to Asamoah Gyan's
absence. Without Gyan, things weren't normal. With
just two shots on target, there were no obvious goal
threats. Heck, without Gyan, there wasn't even a
'proper' goal celebration. In Ghana, we don't take
imaginary selfies when we score, lads; we dance,
and you should know better. I doubt if the 'Baby Jet'
would have had any of that were he on the pitch.
Selfies, ha!
Agyemang Badu looked as unrecognizable on the
pitch as Goodluck Jonathan would in a three-piece
suit. Andre Ayew, too, had what could easily be his
worst show in a Black Stars shirt. Jonathan
Mensah was sub-par, Razak Brimah's save from
Mame Biram Diouf's overhead kick conjured
reflexes of Olele-ic proportions, Baba Rahman didn't
have much fun with many of Ghana's attacking
moves (which, by the way, I could count on one
hand) being initiated on the right flank, while
Christian Atsu's fluffed first-half potential match-
winner probably neutralised his more productive
efforts.
In losing, you broke a rather cool piece of history: a
little bird whispers in my ear that it was the first
time Ghana had ever lost an Afcon group game after
taking the lead.
Let's move on, though.
Ahead of the Algeria game, there are a few things
we'd expect. First, get skipper Asamoah Gyan
some doses of 'Taabea' so he recovers from his
'malaria' in time. (If we could fly $4m to you in
faraway Brazil, why not a bottle of herbal medicine
to Equatorial Guinea?). Do well to sleep in ITNs, too,
for there ain't no way we're allowing you guys to
blame mosquitoes for your inability to shine at the
tournament. No chance.
Next, get Badu a compass to give his movement on
the pitch more direction and purpose while you
make Jordan work out some more in the gym (he
kept getting pushed off the ball like some
lightweight). And, while at it, take time to rehearse a
'Ghanaian' goal celebration.
Oh, and to Mr. Avram Grant: you didn't think I was
letting you off the hook, eh?
I don't know much with respect to the tactical
details of the game, sir, but I do know we were a
shambles in many areas yesterday. Do what you
should to make the team play better and get back
ASAP to the drawing board. If you have one, that is.
Also, we didn't see enough of you yesterday. Your
opposite number, Alain Giresse, had far more
appearances on TV. You ought to do more to attract
attention, man. Scream, yell, jump, wave your
hands, pick your nose, or do just about anything
interesting that would have the camera pan your
way so we'd have a fair idea of how you're reacting
to whatever action is transpiring on the pitch.
Just don't live up to your reputation of being boring,
please, or 'we go bore rough'.
Against Algeria (from what I deduced from their
thrashing of South Africa last night), you'd likely
have the license to play a more expansive, pleasant
game. We know you do know how to ball on your
day, but those guys are absolute 'ballers', too!
That's why they are Africa's top-ranked team and
Group C leaders after the first round of games.
Lose, and you're almost certainly out of the
tournament. Get a positive result, and perhaps the
dream might linger longer.
For now, you're spared, but I won't be so kind with
my choice of words if, after you play Algeria, you
still remain rubbish.
Oh, no, I won't.
Yours annoyedly,
Kofi Ghana.
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