A shock 1-1 draw away from home to Nigeria in Abuja ensured Ghana’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on away goals, thanks to a goalless draw in the first leg. Much to the chagrin of many Nigerians, their West African neighbours had gotten one over them and were booked for the most anticipated FIFA World Cup in recent history.
The lowest-ranked team in this year’s tournament at 61 per the official FIFA Coca-Cola Rankings released on October 6, in Group H alongside favourites Portugal, Uruguay and the Korea Republic. When they begin their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974, the Black Stars will be carrying the hopes of over 31 million Ghanaians and, by stretch, most West Africans.
After missing out on the 2018 tournament, the Otto Addo tutored team will hope to do better than the 2010 team that reached the quarter-final in South Africa, where they lost in dramatic fashion to Uruguay. Addo, a German-born former Ghanaian international, was named as interim coach in February following Milovan Rajevac’s dismissal after a disastrous African Cup of Nations performance in Cameroon early this year.
The 47-year-old Addo serves as an assistant coach at German side Borussia Dortmund. He recently released a 55-man provisional list for the tournament, expected to be pruned to 26 players by November 14. Addo has since been confirmed to lead the national team to the World Cup, with former Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton as the team’s technical adviser.
With a blend of young, experienced and new players like Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams, Mohammed Salisu, Stephan Ambrosius, and Patrick Pfeffer to veterans like captain Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, Daniel Amartey, Mubarak Wakaso and others, the injection of new talent into the team hasn’t transformed onto the pitch as the Black Stars have struggled for form. Ghana have won just two of their 12 matches this year, the recent win coming against Nicaragua 1-0 on September 27, after a humbling 3-0 loss to Brazil a few days earlier.
At their last World Cup appearance in Brazil in 2014, the Black Stars endured a shambolic run and exited the tournament at the group stage after picking up just a single point from three games. With their current form no better, it would be a herculean task for the four-time African champions to make it through the group. Regardless, Addo recently said his team could spring a surprise, despite many football pundits predicting another early exit.
“First of all, we want to play our style of play, and I think Ghanaian teams in the past always played good football,” Addo said on TV3, as quoted by Ghana Soccernet.
“Our football comes surely with victories, and I think this is the first thing we want. If we can survive the group stage, which I said is going to be very tough, then anything is possible,” he added.
In a recent interview with the BBC, former Ghana defender John Paintsil backed Addo to make the side competitive at the World Cup.
“Otto Addo and his staff know what they are looking for. The coaches must stand firm and believe in their abilities,” Pantsil told the BBC.
“Every coach should know their first XI at this time. The little time they will have with the boys, they will do their best to blend them and become one team.”
Ghana face an uphill task against a Portugal team that will be motivated by what could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s swansong. The history between the Black Stars and Uruguay is well-documented, adding extra motivation to avenge the 2010 antics of Luis Suarez, which saw Asamoah Gyan miss a penalty from Suarez’s handball on the goal line. Against Korea, they’ll have all to play for as the Asian side struggles to ascertain the participation of star man Son Heung-Min.
For captain Ayew, the team expects not to be seen as favourites but thinks a ‘fit’ Ghana can be successful at the tournament.
“If we have our full squad, we can seriously disrupt a lot of teams. I am not concerned because I know what Ghana is capable of,” the Al Sadd man told Al Jazeera recently.
“Everything is in place for us to have a successful World Cup. We must have the best preparation possible, but, most importantly, all of your players must be fit at that time,” Ayew added.