The top match of the week was at the Ndola Stadium with Zambia meeting Ghana for the first time since their semi-final game at the ANC. Having lost their opening match to Sudan, Zambia was under pressure to produce a win, and they did...
A match played in an even spirit would end heatedly, with the Ghanaians upset by certain decisions by the Tunisian referee Med Kordi, with some merit I might add. Mr Kordi' performance was at times questionable, with his average mobility appearing to lead him to guess on certain decisions.
But overall and in all fairness, his decisions were not decisive in the outcome of the match, not by a long mile and Ghana must heed Micheal Jackson's words to look in the mirror....
A tepid Black Stars team playing at a pedestrian tempo, appeared convinced of the validity of its slow passing game. The true test of possession is in the evidence of cutting edge in the final third! Without generating any serious tempo until the dying moments of the game, Ghana had nothing in the final third: not movement, not pass completion ratio, not chances....
Without Asamoah Gyan, Ghana lacked a striker who had the movement to create space in the final third, and the ability to play with back to goal, hold up the ball and bring others into play, in spite of the manful efforts of Adiyah.
On the opposite end, Mayuka had everything Adiyah lacked; he especially had the mobility to make clever runs to create space to receive the ball and drag the center backs out of position for Katongo to take advantage of.
The Zambian template for victory was the same as at the Nations Cup. A flexible 4-4-2 (4-4-1-1) formation executed in typical blue collar fashion, with Chris Katongo in a free role behind Mayuka, enabled Zambia again overcome Ghana through its superior work rate in midfield, organization in defence by dropping off quickly, and pace and mobility upfront which the Ghanaian defence never fully came to terms with.
In Isaac Vorsah, Ghana may have an experienced defender, but his lack of pace meant Mayuka and especially Ranford Kalaba would take turns to race past him. It should have been 2-0 at half time...
As it was in the Nations Cup, Ghana continues to struggle to get the balance right in central midfield especially with the absence of Kevin Boateng. Even with a double pivot in Derek Boateng and Agyeman Badu, a static central defence was further exposed by failure to pick up runs into the box from midfield, or effectively cover wide players attacking the inside of the fullbacks.
In my opinion a choice needs to be made between Kwadwo Asamoah and Muntari to play on the left of Badu (if match fit or Annan) to provide balance in central midfield, with Christian Atsu furthermost of the three behind the striker. Or in the alternative, create a free role for Kwadwo in the same position.
In lateral defence, the reality is that Inkoom is a poor defender and lacks end product as a wing back. Ghana must develop better options. On the left, Afful had a decent game, but was disappointed not to see Massawudu who I thought showed good potential at the Nations Cup.
In consecutive losses to Zambia, one thing that has stood out for me was Ghana's lack of organization and commitment in pressing Chansa and Sinkala in the Zambian central midfield, whom I have always felt to be vulnerable in possession, especially the latter.
In spite of the loss I still favor Ghana over Zambia,with road games against Sudan being decisive. But the corresponding fixture in Accra should be a treat....
In Isaac Vorsah, Ghana may have an experienced defender, but his lack of pace meant Mayuka and especially Ranford Kalaba would take turns to race past him. It should have been 2-0 at half time...
As it was in the Nations Cup, Ghana continues to struggle to get the balance right in central midfield especially with the absence of Kevin Boateng. Even with a double pivot in Derek Boateng and Agyeman Badu, a static central defence was further exposed by failure to pick up runs into the box from midfield, or effectively cover wide players attacking the inside of the fullbacks.
In my opinion a choice needs to be made between Kwadwo Asamoah and Muntari to play on the left of Badu (if match fit or Annan) to provide balance in central midfield, with Christian Atsu furthermost of the three behind the striker. Or in the alternative, create a free role for Kwadwo in the same position.
In lateral defence, the reality is that Inkoom is a poor defender and lacks end product as a wing back. Ghana must develop better options. On the left, Afful had a decent game, but was disappointed not to see Massawudu who I thought showed good potential at the Nations Cup.
In consecutive losses to Zambia, one thing that has stood out for me was Ghana's lack of organization and commitment in pressing Chansa and Sinkala in the Zambian central midfield, whom I have always felt to be vulnerable in possession, especially the latter.
In spite of the loss I still favor Ghana over Zambia,with road games against Sudan being decisive. But the corresponding fixture in Accra should be a treat....
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