Focus On... GHANA!

GHANA

Manager: James Kwesi Appiah

Previous Best: 1/4 Final (2010)

Likely Line-up (4-2-3-1)

Pos	Name	Age	Caps	Club
GK	Fatau Duada	29	17	Orlando Pirates (RSA)
RB	Opare	23	16	Porto (POR)
CB	Akaminko	26	8 (1)	Eskişehirspor (TUR)
CB	Boye	27	26(3)	Rennes (FRA)
LB	Sumaila	21	5	Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
DM	Essien	31	56 (9)	AC Milan (ITA)
DM	Muntari	29	81 (20)	AC Milan (ITA)
RAM	Ayew	24	47 (4)	Marseille (FRA)
CAM	Boateng	27	11 (2)	Schalke 04 (GER)
LAM	Asamoah	25	60 (4)	Juventus (ITA)
ST	Gyan	28	78 (39)	Al Ain (UAE)

* Has appeared at a previous World Cup

Average Age: 26.1

Total Caps: 424

Best Odds: 250/1 (SkyBet, Bet365)
Player to Watch: Andre Ayew

Ghana go into the world cup with a degree of uncertainty hanging over a number of selections, and a degree of pride in being the only African nation to have an entirely domestic backroom staff (right). Manager James Kwesi Appiah has key decisions to make before kicking off against the USA on June 16^th.

100% Ghanaian backroom staff

Despite his advancing years, many Premier League fans will be surprised not to see former Wigan goalie Richard Kingston between the posts for Ghana. The 35 year old hasn't played for his national team since October, and is out of the squad entirely. Fatau Duada of South African Premiership side Orlando Pirates will instead start in goal for the black stars.

Daniel Opare is a likely starter at right back. I have seen a number of websites speculating that Daniel Akaminko will start at right full back, but I would expect him to partner Boye in his natural position at centre back. Opare spent the 2013/14 season playing for Standard Liège. Although the Belgian league wouldn’t be considered as being the strongest in Europe, Porto saw enough in Opare to acquire his services on a Bosman transfer.

The matter of which pairing of centre backs Appiah will choose remains a mystery. The 1st choice pairing during qualifying was Boye & Mensah. However with both unavailable for the 1st leg of the African play-off, Samuel Inkoom and Jerry Akaminko came in, only for Ghana to run riot in an impressive 6-1 victory over Egypt. Boye returned for the recent friendly with Montenegro, and should start in Brazil, probably alongside Akaminko.

At left back Appiah is likely to select Rashid Sumaila, a 21 year old centre-back by trade with Mamelodi Sundowns, with only 4 caps to his name. One complicating factor may be the late run of another 21 year old, Jeff Schlupp. Despite only having won a single cap (as late a substitute against Gabon in 2011), an impressive 32 appearances for a Leicester City, in their league winning season in England’s 2^nd tier, brings him into contention. The recent friendly with Montenegro offers no indication as to Appiahs thoughts. David Addy started that game, but has now been dropped from the panel completely. It will be interesting to see which of the young recruits gets the nod against Holland in their friendly on May 31st.

Although their defence certainly isn’t the weakest at the World Cup, it is in the midfield and forward positions where Ghana’s household names feature. Despite his advancing years, the toll injuries have taken on his game, and a strong push from Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu of Udinese, his cult like status will likely see Michael Essian join his AC Millan teammate Sulley Muntari in midfield, after Essien missed the 2010 competition in South Africa through injury. Both will be very well known to fans of English football.

 photo Clément Bucco-Lechat

On the right wing a late burst of form for Marseille, including a hat-trick against Ajaccio will likely see Andre Ayew (left) hold off the challenge of Christian Atsu (Vitesse). Ayew has had a combustible relationship with coach Appiah in the past, but that he has been heavily linked with Liverpool and Napoli, as well as Manchester United and Internazionale gives you some idea of the talent he possesses. His combination of pace, strength and skill could see him emerge as one of the unlikely stars of this world Cup, particularly if Ghana can navigate what will be a very difficult group.

Ghanaian player of the year for 2012 & 2013, Kwadwo Asamoah, will start on the left wing. Asamoah usually plays as a wing back for Juventus in their 5-3-2 system, so his defensive abilities and athleticism will be of great benefit considering he will be expected to support whichever of the inexperienced options Appiah selects at left back, in addition to his attacking responsibilities.

Another name, familiar to fans of English football, Kevin-Prince Boateng, has returned from international retirement, and will play in support of the single striker. Boateng was never able to produce his best football while playing in England, but this free role may allow him to produce the form he has been showing Schalke this season.

The lone striker for Ghana will be Asamoah Gyan. Formerly of Sunderland, Gyan is currently wasting his undoubted talent at Al Ain FC in the United Arab Emirates. If Gyan hasn't lost his edge playing at such a low level, and the €175,000 his is reportedly being paid every week haven’t robbed him of his hunger, Gyan may well be amongst the goals again in Brazil

After the cruel way they went out of the 2010 World Cup, they will go to Brazil on the crest of a wave of goodwill, but it remains to be seen if Ghana can ride that wave to the knock out stages, or if they will be washed away in the toughest of groups. They certainly look very strong going forward, but one does feel their defence is slightly suspect, and may be exposed by the likes of Özil, Müller, and of course, Christiano Ronaldo.