Audio By Carbonatix
Milovan Rajevac declared he wanted to see signs of a team that was ready for the resumption of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in March and in the end discovered that there are things that he needs to toughen up before the road to South Africa resumes.
Against Egypt, that has been the best national team on the continent for the last two years, Ghana held their own well on Wednesday but Rajevac and his players sit down to study the fine details they will realise with a bit more work, a second straight World Cup is more than possible.
First the positives. Without Michael Essien in midfield, Laryea Kingston played in a manner to suggest there will be times where his energy and creativity will be better utilised in the middle of the park and not on the right. It gives Rajevac in that sense more options.
Nana Kwesi Asare who also made his second appearance at left back played in a manner that should make the inactive Harrison Afful fear for his continuous stay as left back. The fact that the Belgium based left back is naturally left footed may in the end work to his advantage.
And despite being club less for so long Stephen Appiah continues to prove he is quality. You wonder why he still carries that clubless tag.
Ahead of the game, there was a lot of talk about how games like this are important for Rajevac to blood new talent and how it could provide him with a lesson or two about his options. In the end it was a reaffirmation of the many things we know about that Black Stars, key among them that the old guard are still Ghana's best available troops if the side is to march on to another World Cup appearance.
John Paintsil was flawless at right back while Richard Kingson pulled off some remarkable saves.
But there were also signs that some of the old guard were losing it. Muntari's quality is never in doubt but he seemed a bit too casual in Cairo.
Junior Agogo laboured without doing much in another performance that will give the pro-Asamoah Gyan camp a lot more voice and accelerate the growing calls for African Youth Championships top scorer Ransford Osei to be given his chance at the highest level.
The player who did his reputation the most harm however was Eric Addo. He has abundant experience but the defending from him was comical at some point. He has lost the pace and often picked the wrong option. With John Mensah so often injury prone, another central defender of good class is needed. And that might just be the elegant Jonathan Mensah.
So with another friendly out of the way the lessons seem simple. The central defence needs to be worked on, midfield continues to work fine. Biggest lesson of all: Agogo needs competition. He looks so badly off colour now.
Source: KickoffGhana
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
The 17-hour miracle: Black Sherif beats logistical marathon to pull off historic Zaama Disco 2025
5 minutes -
NPP Primaries: Electoral area coordinators in Ada, Sege declare support for Bawumia
40 minutes -
PSG marks 90 years with Maiden Dinner and Awards Night
47 minutes -
Volta, Oti pharmacists sound alarm over staff shortages, call for action
52 minutes -
Police foil suspected robbery at Ashaiman; 3 suspects killed
58 minutes -
Forest Okyeman: Communities rise to defend one of Ghana’s last ecological strongholds
1 hour -
AFCON 2025: South Africa start tournament with win over Angola
2 hours -
Why Ghana’s insurance laws still fail claimants, according to new KNUST research
2 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Medeama score late to draw with Basake Holy StarsÂ
2 hours -
Rapperholic Creators challenge blends digital talent and financial discipline for Ghanaian youth
2 hours -
Justice on a leash – Minority claims law enforcement is being used to punish political opponents
2 hours -
Dr Gideon Boako provides ¢10k seed capital for TanoFest Programme
2 hours -
Bond market: Turnover rose by 64.39% to GH¢6.75bn
3 hours -
Dutylex promises more in 2026; targets market expansion
3 hours -
Government grants permits for Responsible Cooperative Mining in Anwia, Teleku Bokazo
3 hours
