Ghana and Egypt played a 2-2 draw in a keenly contested game as each team needed a win. Egypt has two points and Ghana now has one. This means both teams cannot afford to drop further points in their next games.
The five major talking points
1. Mohammed Kudus is officially Ghana’s best player
The Westhand forward has proven that he is the Black Stars’ best player. He proved it during the Qatar 2022 World Cup and has been giving excellent performances recently for Black Stars. He was instrumental for Ghana as he opened the scoring with a beautiful shot from the edge of the box that Mohamed El Shenawy had no chance to save. Mohammed Kudus calmly restored Ghana’s lead immediately after Egypt had equalised the first goal.
The former Ajax forward is undoubtedly a superstar for now as he is proving to be a big game player. Black Stars struggled against Cape Verde without him and Mozambique will feel his presence.
2. Djiku and Mohammed Salisu’s partnership is the best for Ghana now
The centre-back pairing for Ghana seems to have been a problem recently but Djiku and Salisu’s performance in the two games Ghana have played now means that the two can partner for years to come. Mohammed Salisu had an incredible game against Egypt as his composure at the back was excellent. Djiku won man of the match against Cape Verde with 200% dedication and he also continued it against Egypt. Ghana’s problem at the back has seen us concede many cheap goals but it seems these two partnerships will be needed in the AFCON and the subsequent years.
3. Jordan Ayew needs some rest
Undoubtedly, Jordan Ayew has been one of Ghana’s best players in Europe this season and hence deserves all the minutes he is enjoying at the national team but his performance for Ghana has not been up to the standard. Jordan is known for his special set piece-taking abilities and his dribbling and ball retention abilities but has not shown them in Ivory Coast and Ghana’s games before the AFCON. Youngsters like Nuamah and Osman Bukari deserve more minutes in Cote d’Ivoire. Ayew has been slow in the build-up and has also been quiet in games. Chris Houghton’s trust in him must pay off hence Ayew must up his game else, he should be on the bench for others to occupy his position.
4. Calamitous errors lead Ghana to a precarious position
Errors are part of football but Inaki and Bukari’s mistakes were costly as they twice helped Egypt to bounce back into the game. Inaki calamitously gifted Trezeguet in the second half the ball who calmly rounded off Ofori to level the score for the Pharaohs of Egypt. Inaki was captured looking dejected after the error as he was a few minutes later substituted. Odoi and Kudus combined to restore Ghana’s lead as the right-back channelled his inner Kelvin De Bryune to sumptuously assist Kudus whose shot deflected an Egyptian defender and ended at the back of the net.
Osman Bukari was robbed on the edge of Ghana’s eighteen-yard box by Trezeguet for the ball who brilliantly assisted Mostapha Mohammed to calmly slot the ball in the net to level the score once again for Egypt.
At this level, mistakes of this nature are very costly and Ghana must learn from that against Mozambique.
5. Majeed Waris is proven to be the perfect replacement for Partey
Thomas Partey missed the 2023 AFCON due to injuries. He partnered with Salis in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as they were incredible in our midfield. Due to Partey’s injuries, Chris Houghton fell in love with the partnership between Salis and Baba which was proven to be suicidal in Ghana’s recent games.
Majeed Ashimeru has shone in the two games he has started for Ghana and his ability to drive the ball through the tight channels from the midfield position is what Ghana has wanted all this while. Ahimeru is the natural heir to Partey for the Black Stars as he has a lot to his game that helps open up the opposition even when they are playing low block.
Ghana’s 2-2 against Egypt was probably one of the best games we have seen in the group stages in the recent AFCONs as it produced so many moments worth discussing.
Ghana and Egypt both need to win their final group game to stand a chance of qualifying.
