Foreign nationals share a video promoting Ghana through sarcasm, drawing attention to the contrast between common perceptions of the country and the enjoyable reality of living there.
𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 🏴 𝟭-𝟭 🇬🇭 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮: 𝟭𝟯 (+𝟭) 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁
_____
● Lawrence Ati Zigi. Easily his most redemptive game in a Ghana shirt. A 9/10 for me, especially in that first half. A serious statement in his bid to secure the starting role on June 17.
● Benjamin Asare. He was not tested much while he was on, but the one time he faced a dangerous ball, he was beaten at the death for Wales' equaliser. Debatable whether he was at fault, but I'd wager his defenders could have done better.
Ati Zigi vs Asare: Who was better? The Swiss-based keeper. Definitely.
● Marvin Senaya. For large parts of that first half, Ghana's best player. Covering as much ground at the back as he did going forward, with strong tackling followed by decisive runs into space to make himself available as an outlet. It may be too soon to say, but the French-born defender is yet to produce a subpar performance since his Black Stars debut in March.
● Jerome Opoku. Does not speak much, but lets his defending do the talking. His height will be very much needed against the cross-loving England and, especially, Panama.
● Kamaldeen Sulemana. Phew. Yes, he is speedy. And not much else. Unless the coaches have a specific utility for the Atalanta man, I struggle to see how he made the plane ahead of some others. And it showed today. How many more years will we say the 24-year-old is a "potential"?
● Jordan Ayew. An enigma. Our top scorer in qualifying (7 goals, 7 assists), but he is not the same player we saw by the end of the qualifiers against Comoros. An important player on his day, he has, however, lost a yard of pace. His famous hold-up play is becoming more of a hindrance than a weapon because his decision-making has dimmed a bit. In short, if we want to play quick, transitional football, he is not a wise option as a starter.
● Fatawu Issahaku vs Ernest Nuamah. On the basis of what we saw today, Nuamah was better. His directness was more beneficial to the team than that of his Leicester compatriot, who dilly-dallies a bit too much. But I wouldn't rush to start the Ligue 1 man, especially because he is yet to hit top form after his long injury layoff.
● Gideon Mensah. Had a decent game and made a strong claim to start at the World Cup. My only issue with him is that the same Gideon can have a stinker without warning. We hope he doesn't. Today was decent.
● Baba Rahman. His return after years away ended with him being skinned on the way to the Dragons' leveller in the final minutes. Otherwise, he wasn't tested much on his flank.
● Thomas Partey. Something is not right with his general play. The lack of minutes at club level was glaring. For a player whose gift is seeing moves before they are made, the Ghana vice-captain is not showing it. And yet, it will not be easy for the coach to drop him. Maybe he should. A conundrum.
● Caleb Yirenkyi. In all my previews for FourFourTwo, FIFA and other publications, he was my "Man to Watch". Michael Essien, who was in the stands watching, would have been thrilled by the player described as his heir apparent. Energy. Drive. Awareness. And, of course, an eye for goal, as we saw. Somebody played this creative dynamo at right-back. At right-back! God will judge you, Otto Addo.
● Jonas Adjetey. Overall, he needed a strong performance like today's. One of the most pilloried players for being a weak link against Germany and Austria, the Wolfsburg man stood tall, led well and was generally solid. He lacks confidence on the ball a bit, it must be said.
● In general, the Black Stars were more composed (after a nervy first quarter of an hour), more assured and kept the ball for longer periods than we have seen in recent games. That's progress. Are we World Cup-ready? Not a chance.
🏁 Overall, vital for team morale that they did not lose. Otto left a side that had become accustomed to leaving the pitch with an L. Queiroz must restore a sense of doggedness to the lads.
In 2024, Arsenal owner Josh Kroenke texted Mikel Arteta, joking that it was only Arsenal left of the sports teams they owned to win a title.
In 2026, Stan and Josh Kroenke have completed the syndicate.
Arsenal are champions. 🏆
“Serious-minded guys do not have sweet talks; it is the womanizers who talk sweetly because they’ve learned the trade. They know their craft. Serious ladies are not romantic but rather hard-working.”
— Prophet Emmanuel Adjei asserts