The senior national football team, the Black Stars are yet to register a win in the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon. They have lost their opening Group C encounter against Morocco by a lone goal and failed to beat Gabon in a 1-1 draw on Friday night.
However, the team has registered fewer shots at goal with only two shots on target in both games. There was no sense of urgency, cohesion and teamwork on the pitch. As for the players, they look derailed and unmotivated. The shambolic performances could be attributed to the lack of a senior figure, experience, talent development and poor technical team.
Moreover, Ghana remains one of the giants of African football and has won the African cup four times; their last in 1992. Only Egypt and Cameroon have won more.It is evident that, the senior national team’s missing link is former skipper, Asamoah Gyan’s goal scoring prowess. The team’s bluntness in front of goal needs the experienced poacher. Gyan has cemented his name on the continent as one of the best strikers of the ball. His sumptuous volley against the USA at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is still fresh on the memories of Ghanaians.
Records and stats
Nicknamed as Baby Jet, the former Sunderland striker doubles as Ghana’s leading goalscorer and Africa’s top goalscorer at the World Cup. He also shares the record of scoring in nine successive major tournaments with Cristiano Ronaldo. It is unfortunate he was not selected for his tenth and might be overtaken by Ronaldo if he makes it to Qatar, 2022. Most importantly, if records mean a thing to us, Gyan should have made it to Cameroon. Because Germany took ‘old’ Miroslav Klose to 2014 World Cup to overtake Ronaldo of Brazil as the all-time top scorer of the World Cup.
In conclusion, Asamoah Gyan’s presence in this current team could have restored fear and respect. The Black Stars must beat Comoros heavily in their final group match to qualify as one of the best third placed teams. The chase for AFCON glory seems elusive as the forty-year-old drought continues unabated.
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