World Cup 2018: Kwesi Appiah’s lack of courage puts Ghana’s qualification in danger

The Black Stars blew away a good chance to get back into contention for a 2018 world cup spot thanks to a lack of courage from their coach.

It was a performance that many Ghanaians would like to forget very quickly. Inside a nearlypacked Baba Yara stadium, the Black Stars onceagaindisappointed as theylaboredto a 1-1 draw at hometoCongo.

READ ALSO:  How the Black Stars fared in 1-1 stalemate with Congo

A huge chance has just been blown away by a side that was fortunate to have been aided by results elsewhere. Egypt’s surprise 1-0 loss to Uganda on Thursday had presented the Black Stars with a huge opportunity to get back into contention for a place in Russia next year.

However, after 90 minutes, the players, technical team and fans were left red-faced after another no show by the team. Against the Red Devils, Ghana was simply sloppy, dire and lethargic. When Kwesi Appiah was re-elected as Black Stars coach, the no.1 fear of many Ghanaians was on whether he had the balls.

After all it was his lack of courage that cost him in his first stint with the team. And in Ghana’s opening AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia the former Al Khartoum boss demonstrated flashes that he was indeed no prepared to repeat his mistakes of old.

He chose talent over personality, result over effort and form over status in that Ethiopia game and was rightfully rewarded with a 5-0 thumping of the Walias.

READ ALSO: Russia 2018: Kwasi Appiah: 'Never say never, we can still qualify'

But on Thursday, Appiah simple appeared to have forgotten that trick. He rather preferred names over aptitude. Perhaps he was overawed by the fact that some of his usual stars were back in the team. The 5-0 win over Ethiopia was emphatic, but if there was really to be a test, it was to be against this Congo side.

From the result, though, the Black Stars coach failed to prove his doubters wrong. The decision to play a relatively inexperienced Joseph Attamah Larweh as a make-shift right-back proved to be his biggest undoing, as the Istanbul Basaksehir rearguard’s lack of concentration led to Congo getting an early opener.

From there the Black Stars were bound to struggle, and they chased shadows for the entirety of the game. And not even the later equalizer from Thomas Partey could paper over the cracks. But despite Attamah’s lack of concentration leading to Congo’s goal, it was Kwesi Apiiah’s own timidity that ultimately cost Ghana the game. That, coupled with the fact that John Boye and Raphael Dwamena were also absent meant that Appiah needed to reshuffle his pack.

Trying to solve such a conundrum needed much courage, but unfortunately Appiah lacked it on Thursday. He had all the materials to swing this game in favour of Ghana. He had a bench – a formidable one at that – which could turn things around for any coach, yet his sheer display of timidity let himself and the entire nation down.

READ ALSO: World Cup Qualifier : Asamoah Gyan imitates Cristiano Ronaldo in Black Stars' game against Congo

Against Congo the Black Stars struggled to get hold of the ball, let alone possess it. Barely could the midfield pairing of Thomas Partey and Ebenezer Ofori string three passes together without following it up with a wayward one.

Jonathan Mensah and Daniel Amartey were also almost always found wanting, and could barely cope with the speed of Thievy Bifouma as the Congolese team run riots on the wings.

But if the struggles of the defense and midfield were evident, then that of the attack were simply transparent.  Why it took so long for Appiah to substitute Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew is something perhaps even Christopher Columbus may never know.

The Black Stars captain and his deputy were simply not themselves, and looked more like mere passengers in the game than players playing for a spot on football’s biggest stage,

Great coaches not only win matches with their first teams, they also conjure magic from the bench when necessary. On Thursday, Appiah could neither do both. He failed to win, and he lacked that magic touch we saw against Ethiopia two months ago.

Against the Walias Agbenyenu Lumor started at left-back; here he didn’t play at all. Thomas Agyepong was the star of that triumph, but against Congo he was afforded just 25 minutes. In their places, Ghana paraded Shlupp and Christian Atsu.

READ ALSO: Video: Watch how Congo took the lead against Ghana in World Cup qualifier

Newcastle United winger Atsu was undoubtedly Ghana’s best player on the pitch against Congo, but Ayew’s position should have been taken by Agyepong. The Black Stars deputy skipper has had a very poor start to the season at West Ham, and it was no surprise that that transcended in this game.

By now, Appiah would surely look back and know that benching Agyepong for Andre Ayew was a wrong move, and that keeping Gyan on for over 60 minutes when he could barely even get hold of the ball was equally suicidal.

But it’s too late now. Ghana is now winless in three group E games, with world cup qualification certainly now in the balance. Mathematically it is still possible to qualify, but the road could have been smoother if the Black Stars had recorded a win against their Congolese counterparts.

The timidity of their coach, though, means that is now a mere dream and they will now have to do it the hard way to book a ticket to Russia.

The Black Stars blew away a good chance to get back into contention for a 2018 world cup spot thanks to a lack of courage from their coach. Read Full Story