Timing is everything and for the Kurt Okraku-led Ghana Football Association (GFA), the announcement of multiple player international switches to be eligible to play for the Black Stars couldn’t have come at a better time.

Mere weeks after the Black Starlets camp was rocked with issues on MRI scan fallout just before the start of the zonal U-17 football championship that played a big part in Ghana’s failed attempt to progress to the next stage of qualifying to compete at the World Cup, a worse fate hit the u-17 female counterparts.

Like the Starlets, the Black Maidens won’t get to compete at the World Cup; however, unlike the Starlets, the Maidens are staring being absent for the next two World Cup over alleged cases of age cheating during the World Cup qualifiers. While the GFA has indicated it will contest the two World Cup cycle ban and $100,000 fine against Ghana, the damage has been done.

In effect, the next wave of talent won’t get to compete at the world level and test its quality against nations from other parts of the world in the coming years. There is also the matter of the men's U-20 side, Black Satellites, failing to excel at the Toulon Tournament on the back of failing to make it to the World Cup.

The gloomy situation apparently looks to be lifted in the wake of the announcement of six player additions to the Black Stars playing unit personnel pool. Headlined by the switches of Tariq Lamptey and Inaki Williams from England and Spain respectively and Mohammed Salisu’s commitment to play for Ghana after abstaining from call-ups, all the problems have all but evaporated from the tabloids.

The timing of these announcements has beat down the massive heat building up on the GFA over the poor handling and performances of the national teams and football in Ghana in general. With the inevitable influx of the big names in Ghana’s “transfer window” into the Black Stars setup for Qatar, some players who have played varying roles at various stages of Ghana’s qualification to the 2022 World Cup would have to make way for the new group into the team.

As such, “pro Mubarak Wakaso for Qatar 2022” supporters need to start coming to grips with a no-show from the veteran midfielder when the Mundial commences. Accounting for the inclusion of Salisu, Williams and Lamptey, Ghana could line up in a 4-3-3 formation for most games in Qatar later this year.

With Richard Ofori in goal, Gideon Mensah, Salisu, Daniel Amartey and Lamptey in defence and Thomas Partey as the anchor in midfield, Ghana gets a ton of tactical flexibility, creativity and industry by flanking him with Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Mohammed Kudus.

Kamaldeen, Williams and Jordan represent the best-attacking trio as things stand for the Otto Addo-led team. The biggest asset aside from creativity is speed for Kamaldeen and Williams shares the latter trait in leaps and bounds, unlike Jordan who wasn’t the fastest player even in his prime years.

Having speedy guys up front helps Otto Addo’s modern system where fast forwards use their speed to stretch the field as much as possible to create gaps in defensive lines that are exploited by midfielders positioned high up the pitch. While Jordan isn't the best fit for this system, through a combination of unconvincing performances from the likes of Joseph Paintsil and naivety from young lads specifically Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan is the best option down that flank in Black Stars' starting unit.

Fortunately, the Black Stars pool has speedy Osman Bukari and (now) Lamptey to make up for the younger Ayew’s inability to stretch the field. Jordan has shown a penchant for dropping centrally from the flanks leaving space that should be occupied by the aggressive Lamptey or Bukari on overlaps. Ayew in such situations can function as a direct link with Williams while Kyereh moves a bit wider to cover the half-space vacated by the Crystal Palace striker or have Lamptey do it.

This gives the Black Stars tactical flexibility as several pieces are interchangeable without sacrificing the balance of the team to be good enough for a deep run. Having guys like Williams, Lamptey and Salisu will oust some players from the Qatar trip while relegate others (Alexander Djiku, Dennis Odoi in a back four formation) to the bench but it is a necessary evil for Ghana to get back to the quarterfinals or go a step or two further in the World Cup.

While the Okraku-led administration has been hesitant to take drastic measures before, the administration is likely less inclined to do so when picking the squad for the 2022 World Cup since it needs a glorious run to at least gloss over a ton of ills they have committed.

Barring a major injury, Jordan is a shoe-in for the tournament and in spite of the talent upgrade, he isn’t dropping into the squad member category anytime soon.