Africa Nations Cup: Semi-Finals Preview- Ghana vs Zambia

1. We had to wait until the quarter finals to see the first truly high quality game of the tournament. Pity it was marred in the end by the stupidity of Tunisian players and the predictable gamesmanship of a Ghanaian team edging the game in extra time and seeking to keep their advantage.
2. A tactically balanced Black Stars team was suprisingly one dimensional, repeatedly looking to release Asamoah Gyan with the long ball and getting no change from Abdenour at center back. He had one shot on goal!
3. With two defensive midfielders, Annan and Badu in a 4-2-3-1, Inkoom was being pushed wide on the right to stretch the Tunisian defence and deliver crosses into the box. The tactic failed; worse still, his defensive weaknesses were repeatedly exposed.
4. If this Ghanaian team fails in the tournament, it will be largely on the back of two limited defensive midfielders, and the failure to adequately replace Kevin Prince Boateng's creativity from midfield. It will also be the result of the inability of Muntari to offer much to the team so far.
5. Suprisingly, the Tunisians had the technical edge in midfield, with Annan and Badu playing square and unable to deal with the North Africans rotating  players behind them and executing quick give and go passes, but often constrained by a lack of composure in the last third.
6. But old cynical habits die hard for Tunisia and they would promptly retreat into safety mode in the second half. A Ghanaian team on the ropes was let off the hook, and the entry of Jordan Ayew would change the balance of the game.
7. In the end Ghana won with a goal from a set piece and a horrendous goalkeeping error. Not a good sign...
8. Against Zambia, the Black Stars will start with the edge in key areas of the field, except in the wide defensive areas, with the average performance of Pantsil, Inkoom's weaknesses and Massawudu's inexperience.
9. This is a Zambia team built more for the counterattack than the open attacking team of two years ago. Like Ghana, it has struggled for creativity in the last third, and often lacks the explosive speed to make its counterattack decisive.
10. Playing a 4-4-2, the Zambian team has often lacked discipline. Katongo has frequently drifted aimlessly where he is expected to drop into midfield in the non-possession phase. The two central midfielders Sinkala and Chansa, powerful as they are, sometimes push forward simultaneously, leaving gaps behind them.
11. I expect Ghana to dominate in midfield with a 5/4 advantage in numbers, and to press Zambia high upfield and take advantage of the tendency of their midfield players to dwell on the ball. Derek Boateng should replace the injured Agyeman Badu; sad really as this should ideally be a great opportunity to play Asamoah alongside Annan and restore balance to central midfield. Hopefully Jordan Ayew starts; the decision to use Muntari on the outside of midfield did not work vs Tunisia.