Opinions, they say, are like noses, everyone has one especially when it comes to the issue of football in Ghana. All the twenty-two million Ghanaians are known to be coaches expressing preferences over one player to the other featuring in any particular match. When it comes to international competitions, Ghanaians are noted for their mathematics. The statistics come to the fore when qualification to the next stage of the competition or tournament is indeterminate.
The national teams are especially found in this situation often because those in charge fail to put in place adequate preparation either due to ineptitude or sheer negligence. And because nobody is held accountable for their stewardship over national assignments, the people put in charge walk away scot free and even delude themselves of false achievements.
Ghana is once again at the crossroads in the ongoing CAF/FIFA 2010 World Cup (WC) and African Cup of Nations (CAN); South Africa 2010 and Angola 2010. This weekend (10-12 October 2008) will witness the ultimate matches played across the breadth and length of the African continent to decide which nations progress to the next phase of the competition. Usually considering the opponents in Ghana’s group, Libya, Gabon, and Lesotho, Ghana should not by now being relying on the result from Libreville where Gabon face it out with Libya. We should have qualified with a match to spare like Benin which does not even come near Ghana in terms of football pedigree. I am not a prophet of doom but it would be better if we fail to qualify so that Nyantakyi's GFA should leave office.
Unfortunately, any forceful removal from office would attract FIFA warnings and later punishment. If the Black Stars qualify now to the next stage and even to the CAN and WC, it may look as if the current GFA is very good. We may not see their incompetence and weak sides so it would be better we don't qualify. Look at how the whole of England felt when the team failed to qualify for Euro '08. Though it is very early, theirs is a revival in the English team as evidenced in their 4-1 demolition of their bogey side Croatia. Something of that nature should happen now to Ghana soccer to evoke revival because everything has gone down significantly.
Irrespective of my feelings about the current crop of managers, I have the firmest confidence yet that by the last whistle on Saturday October 12, 2008, the Black Stars of will not just progress to the second phase of the competition, but rather emerge winners which will help ward off stiff opposition in the next grouping. My optimism stems from the fact that Gabon also badly needs a win to advance to the subsequent round and this alone will serve as enough motivation for them to win. At the same time, the opposition from the Greens of Libya would be so keen that many goals are not likely to be conceded on either side. Fortunately, for the Black Stars of Ghana, their opponents, the Crocodiles of Lesotho can be described as the whipping boys of the group hence on a good day, a determined and purposeful attacking team should be able to score descent and reasonable goals at home.
The expectation, all things being equal, is that the Black Stars in their usual element must proceed to the second phase along with Gabon after Saturday’s round of matches. Good luck to better teams and better preparation for the losers next time ahead. I assure you that there will be no disappointment this time and so you can even start your jubilation on Friday ahead of Saturday kick off in Sekondi. Caution though, do not over indulge. Monday 13th October 2008
I got it all right. My prediction came true. Black Stars topped Group 5 of the 2010 joint World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifying series played at Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi, Ghana. See the scores and the final standings League Table below:
Ghana Black Stars 3 - Lesotho Crocodiles 0
Gabon 1 - Libya 0
Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Ghana 6 4 0 2 11 5 12
Gabon 6 4 0 2 8 3 12
Libya 6 4 0 2 7 4 12
Lesotho 6 0 0 6 2 16 0
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