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Black Stars head coach CK Akonnor will take his teammates to the battlefield on Monday, October 12 for another international friendly, this time against Asian champion Qatar. Ghana fell 3-0 to a well-composed and disciplined Mali team on Friday at the Emir sports complex in Antalya, a result that drew criticism from the Ghanaian soccer public.
The game was coach Akonnor’s first outing as Black Stars head coach. He decided to name a team made up of young and experienced players, including three rookies and three players with fewer than 10 matches in the starting lineup against Mali.
In the end, the Eagles outscored the Black Stars by winning 3-0 and delivering coach Akonnor an unforgettable night. Lessons have obviously been learned from the teams’ boring performance against Mali and the players will come out on Monday with one thing in mind: victory.
Lawrence At-Zigi conceded three goals that day, but that was due to poor defense and uncoordinated play in midfield to protect the back line. Nicholas Opoku is not yet cleared by the medical team to play after limping in the final 15 minutes of the game against Mali and his place will likely be taken by Celta de Vigo player Joseph Aidoo.
In midfield, Thomas Teye-Partey had a quiet day against Mali, but the Arsenal midfielder has been full of energy and confidence in both practice sessions on Saturday and Sunday, looking fresh and ready for the Qatar game.
He must show leadership in midfield and bring in players like Alexander Djiku, Emmanuel Lomotey, Joseph Attamh or whoever the coach chooses to play on Monday.. Young Benson Annang, who plays for Slovakia, was an unused substitute against Mali, as coach Akonnor preferred to play England winger Tarique Fosu on the right back rather than the former.
For Qatar, this game gives them the opportunity to test their strength against one of the best teams in Africa after conquering Asia. The Qataris have invested heavily in their team following the Aspire Academy program and the decision to bring in talents from South America to strengthen the team.
Head coach Félix Sánchez has done an incredible job of turning an ordinary team into a championship-winning team in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar won the 2019 Asian Championship on an undefeated streak, conceding a goal and scoring 19 in the process.
Right-back Eissa Ahmed is one of Qatar’s most promising top-flight right-backs playing the first three games for his club Al-Kharaitiyat in the new season. They also have a weapon on Abdulaziz Hatem, a 29-year-old midfielder who plays for Al-Rayyan FC. Hatem has played 75 games, scoring 5 goals for the Annabi.
Captain Hassan Al Haydos is expected to take his players to this game having been without international football due to travel restrictions imposed as a result of the corona virus pandemic. The 29-year-old Al Saad forward is currently the team’s most experienced player, having played 131 games and scoring 27 goals for Qatar. Haydos is a player who likes to play in the middle but also works on the flanks.
One of the unique qualities of this team is its solid bottom line. Qatar conceded just one goal at the 2019 Asian Championship and the goal came in a 3-1 win against Japan in the final. Tarek Salman, Tarek Salman and Musaab Kheder were credited with that brilliant defensive record.
With Ghana failing to score against Mali and not being clinical in recent outings, it is unknown to break the excellent defense of this Qatari team. Captain Andre Ayew is among the players who disappointed in the game against Mali. Andre Ayew stands out for carrying the team on his shoulders and leading by example. But that attacking prowess didn’t exist on Friday.
The Swansea City striker, who finished last season at the top, was rated one of the best players in the Championship.
Jordan Ayew has been impeccable in recent years for both the club and the country and coach CK Akonnor will rely heavily on him to lead Ghana’s lines despite disappointing against Mali. The Crystal Palace man has vastly improved with his link game, shooting accuracy and conversion rate after scoring 9 goals and giving two assists for Palace last season, winning the player of the season at Selhurts Park.
Ghana coach CK Akonnor enters the game under a lot of pressure as expectations continue to grow for the team. The former Asante Kotoko coach is expected to make some changes to the starting lineup.
Players like Joseph Aidoo, Attamah Larweh, Baba Iddrisu and Caleb Ekuban are likely to start against Qatar.
The game will be broadcast live on GTV and GTV sports +. The start is at 6:30 pm Turkish time – 3:30 pm Ghana time.
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