Ghana FINALLY Come to Party in Style, and Grant Must Stick with Kwesi over Jordan

It had not been a great tournament for the Black Stars before today. The performance was lacking, and they looked FAR inferior to their display at the World Cup under one of their own. But finally, Ghana showed why they OUGHT to keep this cup in West Africa by totally blowing away Guinea. With Kwesi Appiah in for the ineffective Jordan Ayew, Ghana had a better attacking flow that saw them as EASY winners.

Grant is still feeling his way around this team. How he was chosen for this role is beyond me, but I can't insult him too much...he DID take Chelsea further in the Champions League than the Great One has in more editions.

The first three matches of Ghana were just not good. There was no flow at all, and it was the ugly long ball routine, which actually got them that win over Algeria. So people might be saying that Ghana are this far by their sheer talent rather than any tactical wizardry from the Israelite.

But Grant made a big move by starting with Kwesi, in only his second cap over the more seasoned Jordan. But as I commented before, Andre's brother just does not have the muscle or presence or football understanding to play the attacking position. Kwesi just has a better football understanding which means he loses the ball less and does not put himself in scenarios where the ball can be dispossessed from him.

Moving forward that is how Ghana have to start. As they say, don't change a winning formula and this worked great for Ghana. But there are still improvements to be made, and this team can play even better and put away more chances. As my saying goes...."Goals win games, not chances"

Atsu was one of the best performers for Ghana in that ill-fated World Cup in Brazil. He had the skills, and moves and balance to be a deadly winger. It was unfortunate Ghana did not advance as they could have really made some loud noise and sounds in Brazil.







But, what an incredible goal. THAT is the kind of play that makes you win trophies. It's what the great Ronaldo did for Brazil in 2002 when they needed him to do magic to turn the game in their favour. If Ghana find it tight in the semi or the final, Grant must give Atsu the freedom to take the initiative. BUT it's about making the right decision. If Gyan is open, don't take the shot, lay it off. But if there is just no pass to be on, Atsu can cut inside and fire off a shot and see what happens. Sometimes, you need that individual piece of intervention to WIN  a game.

I expect Ghana to take home the trophy, but as I look at this tournament, there is no clear favourite, Everyone will give Ghana that tag, after the 4-1, but against Equatoreal Guinea they are facing the referee and most likely it will be Ivory Coast or a confident DR Congo. So unless Ghana stick to a gameplan and be disciplined at the back and have more inventiveness and dynamism at the front, then they WON'T win a Nations Cup that they are due to win.

This Cup MUST remain in West Africa.

HH