When Ghana’s meeting with Brazil was just around the corner, many were anxious as they wanted to see how the Black Stars would fare against the best in the world.
It was just a friendly game, the perfect opportunity for Otto Addo’s men to gain confidence for the tougher one; the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
As everyone witnessed on Friday night, the Black Stars were outclassed by a star-studded side, conceding three goals without reply.
Brazil without a doubt are a bigger side and were tough for Ghana to beat, but how have they fared in less competitive matches over the last two years?
The games won
It was 12th October 2020. The Black Stars had taken a beating from Mali just three days prior, sparking national outrage.
It wasn’t the start CK Akonnor would have liked, after waiting so many months to coach the players in close proximity following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Qatar was their scheduled opponent and it ended up being somewhat a training session for Thomas Partey and co. Ghana beat the Maroon 5-1 with captain Andre Ayew scoring twice.
Ghanaians had to wait for nearly two years for another friendly win. The four-time AFCON winners locked horns with Chile on 14th June 2022, just four days after the 4-1 humbling by Japan in the Kirin Cup.
The game ended 0-0 in regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout which Manaf Nurudeen played a key role in a 3-1.
In the last two years, Ghana has won just two out of eight friendly games (1D, 5L). Nicaragua provides the opportunity for the team to improve the run.
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Striker drought
In the eight friendly matches played, the Black Stars have found the net on just six occasions (0.75 goals per game). It is quite interesting to note that five of those goals came in one game (Qatar).
It is however clear that Otto Addo’s men have gone without a goal in six out of eight games, a worrying statistic.
An even more worrying statistic is the fact that just two out of the six goals have been scored by strikers (33%).
Caleb Ekuban found the net after coming on as a substitute in the 5-1 win over Qatar and Jordan Ayew scored a cracker in Ghana’s disappointing showing against Japan. In recent days, Jordan does not even spearhead the forward line.
Felix-Afena Gyan, Benjamin Tetteh, Caleb Ekuban and others have been given opportunities to make impacts but have struggled overall to do so.
The introduction of Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo gives some hope. The pair have scored six goals between them at club level this season and are hungry to prove themselves in their next game.
Team needs to take aim before World Cup
The Black Stars have just two games left to prepare for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Nicaragua, a team currently ranked 139th in FIFA as immediate opponents on Tuesday.
They were defeated 2-1 by Suriname on Thursday, a result fit for a low quality side who are seen as underdogs against Ghana. Switzerland will be nation’s last friendly match before the global showcase begins.
Brazil was a lesson well learnt by Otto Addo and Nicaragua is the perfect opponent for his men to show their might as the world cup beckons.
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Ghana will have to be superior against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea to have a fighting chance of making it out of Group H in the next two months.
It starts from finding the net and winning friendly games.
By Bill Eshun|3Sports|Ghana
