Reigning champions of Africa Algeria recorded a big friendly win over Ghana on Wednesday evening at the Education City in Doha as the North Africans extend their undefeated run to 34 games with a 3-0 victory over the Black Stars.
Here are the five major lessons we picked from this pre-AFCON friendly match.
1.Algeria confirm status as biggest favorites to win the 2021 AFCON
The biggest favorites of any tournament starts from the title holder and the Algerians by this heavy friendly success over the Black Stars – a respected national team at every AFCON tournament – are sending signals to heavyweights like Senegal, Morocco and Egypt.
It is obvious that a national team and a title holder that is unbeaten in 34 international games puts a lot of fear in many opponents.
2.Black Stars lacked high level quality
With the exception of Thomas Partey the Ghana line-up lacked an absolute top class player in the starting line up and it was evident throughout the game. The likes of Joseph Paintsil, Fatawu Issahaku did their best but they fall short coming up a high quality side like Algeria.
3.Lawrence Ati-Zigi should have done better on the third goal
The St. Gallen custodian was introduced into the game in the second half replacing Manaf Nurudeen. Ati-Zigi failed to handled a cross that in the area as Islam Slimani easily tapped in to make it 3-0 for the North Africans.
4.Pressure mounts on the Black Stars to deliver in Cameroon
The only way the Black Stars can shut the mouths of their critics is to win the AFCON. That is the only way.
Ghana open her tournament with a game against Morocco on Monday and Ghanaian fans will expect nothing but a win.
5.Goal scoring still a major Ghana problem
The Stars drew blank today but that has been a major headache for the team during the qualification series and with few days to start the tournament in Cameroon, many are still pondering over the Ghana attack even though there were no Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan in this game.
