Ghana Black Stars dream to qualify for a fourth successive Worldcup now looks jeopardize after Egypt thrashed Ghana 2-0 in Aleksandr, Egypt.
Hopes were high prior to game where the Ghana team had converged at Dubai as part of preparations to outwit the Egyptians. Nonetheless the Pharaohs grabbed all three points with goals coming from former Chelsea player Mohammed Salah and Saeed.
After matchday 2, the Black stars who are grouped with Congo, Uganda and Egypt lies 3rd in the group with only 1 point.
Egypt tops the group with 6 points followed by Uganda who beat Congo 1-0 while Congo languished at the bottom with no point.
With four games left to wrap up the qualifiers for the Russia 2018 qualifiers, one cannot conclude Egypt has grabbed a ticket for the next Worldcup neither can one rule Ghana out but reality is glaring, it will take a miracle of hardworking foots to see Ghana through the next world cup.
Invariably, It’s an easy prediction to say Ghana is will be missing out in the 2018 Worldcup amidst the current state of the the team play and it off the pitch issues.
This reality which looms ahead comes with so many questions for us to ask ourselves. The nation that has been glowing the African map at the recent Worldcups after making a three successive appearance has lost it vibe. There are definitely things which are the cause to.
Agreed, after the Black Stars 2014 Worldcup debacle, the spirit of the team has been on the low, received bad press which has had a negative effects. It’s been two years and over thus the toll has been wiped or minimal.
The end of the bad effects of the Debacle was just a time where a radical sports minister was appointed to drive the nation’s sports. A minister who came with a preoccupied mindset to wipe out unnecessary expenditures at the football Association.
With his approach since he took office as the minister of sports, the Football Association which is supposed to harmoniously collaborate to ensure success for Ghana football has not been the case but exchange war of words, media banter has been the order of the day.
It’s wasn’t surprised when the Football Association president described the Sports minister Nii Lantey as a “serial caller” on live radio for an ill comment apparently made by the minister on the Ghana league.
Sitting from afar and watching the drama between the sports ministry and the GFA, they cannot be denied of the biggest cap of blame should Ghana miss out on the Worldcup.
Nii Lantey’s major aim has been to cut down cost according to his body language there is a huge pressure on the public purse. His posture suggests to eradicate the unnecessary spending at the FA to make way for other sporting disciplines to get a financial attention.
Not a bad idea the honorable minister is having, but should it be at the detriment of the nation’s qualification to the biggest sporting event, the Worldcup?
He and his ministry should wear the the biggest cap of blame if Ghana fails to qualify, thus he be rewarded immensely for his cost cutting mission if accomplished.
With his wholly support, Ghana wouldn’t have been where we are today, 3rd in group after 2 games. It’s was just before one week to the start of the Ghana’s World Cup campaign at Tamale last month against Uganda where there was pretentious portrayal that all is well between the ministry and the FA. The result after the game told all and sundry the reality of the repercussions.
Inasmuch the the muddy relationships and the minister’s approach hasn’t been worth, the fitness of our actors should never be glossed over.
This current Black Stars team in my opinion could be the most lightest team the nation has ever had. There is absolutely no edge in play or even to talk of telepathic play. Clearly with the assemblage of the current squad you be right to write them off. Ghana has lost it mojo with these.
It will be however appropriate to set our eyes on the 2017 African Cup of nations which will kick start in two months time at Gabon with the ambition of ending the over 30 years long drought.
For that, I’m optimistic than the World cup qualification.
FOLLOW: Nazir Hamzah @Oseikromniiba
