FIFA World Cup 2022: Ghana Team Analysis

Ghana is the lowest-ranked country competing in Qatar, entering the tournament at No. 61 in the FIFA world cup ranking. The country’s arduous path to the game is primarily to blame for this. Ghana’s worst-ever finish in the African Cup of Nations came after they were ousted in the group stage, after losing on a penultimate day to AFCON newcomers Comoros. As a result of such a disaster, Ghana fired manager Milovan Rajevac after only four months on the job and hired current coach Otto Addo.

Under Rajevac, Ghana’s Black Stars were so close to missing out on the African World Cup qualification playoff that they needed the tiebreaker of goals scored to proceed. After a 1-1 deadlock in both legs of the playoff, Ghana moved on thanks to an away goal. Ghana’s path to Qatar may be the least direct, but it has earned its place there.

Recently, players like Tariq Lamptey and Iaki Williams, who came up through European junior systems, have switched to the Black Stars under Addo. Addo’s challenge in Qatar will be to help the team’s newcomers gel with established veterans like Thomas Partey and André Ayew.

Ghana’s Group H Matches

Date	Team	Time	Stadium
24 November	Ghana vs Portugal	19:00 (Local Time)	Stadium 974
28 November	Ghana vs Korea Republic	16:00 (Local Time)	Education City Stadium
2 December	Ghana vs Uruguay	18:00 (Local Time)	Al Janoub Stadium

 

FIFA World Cup Strategy and Tactics Adopted by Otto Addo:

In March, Ghana barely qualified for the World Cup and faced Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Addo took over for Rajevac in February, so this was a real baptism of fire. As an assistant coach, he was familiar with the players, although he only had a few weeks to prepare for the matches against Nigeria. His job was made harder by squad absenteeism.

Addo made five changes to Rajevac’s final line-up. Mohammed Kudus and Felix Afena-Gyan were elevated to the starting XI for the first leg against Nigeria, and the team looked sturdy in defence. In Addo’s first match as coach, Ghana preserved a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw. He sent out the same XI for the second game and was rewarded with a 1-1 tie that sent them to the World Cup on the away goals rule.

Four of Addo’s starting XI versus Nigeria were under 25, and two were teenagers. These youthful and motivated players will offer fresh vigour to the club and pressure the more established players in Qatar.

Match Winning Player: Andre Ayew

Only Ayew remains from the 2010 squad that advanced to the quarterfinals in South Africa. After 15 years with the senior national team, Ayew is now the captain and needs just one more cap to become Ghana’s all-time appearances leader. He is 32 years old. Ayew, who currently plays for the Qatari club Al-Sadd, scored three goals to lead Ghana in scoring during qualifying and added another pair of tallies in 2014 when Ghana last competed in the World Cup. His first of those tallies came in a group-stage match against the United States.

Rising Star In the Field: Mohammed Kudus

With Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie, Kudus will be eligible to play in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in the next 2020/21 season. The three games his team has played in the Champions League this season have all resulted in goals for him, with his efforts against Rangers, Liverpool, and Napoli particularly noteworthy.

As a result of his two-point performance against the Glasgow club, he was voted man of the match and selected to the Champions League team of the week. He has scored four times in eight Eredivisie games so far this year.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has established himself as one of Addo’s first-choice players, scoring five goals in 16 international appearances. He frequently assumed leadership roles as a young player, and he may well shine in Qatar in 2022. He is not considered one of the most talented players born in 2000 for nothing.

FIFA World Cup History of Ghana

Ghana didn’t play in a World Cup until 2006. With John Mensah, Stephen Appiah, and Asamoah Gyan, Ghana reached the Round of 16 in Germany before succumbing to Brazil. In South Africa in 2010, Ghana improved before losing to Uruguay in the quarterfinals.

In Brazil in 2014, Ghana lost in a tough group, but they were the only team not to yield to eventual champion Germany. In Russia 2018 qualifying, the Black Stars failed to Egypt and stayed home.

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