Ghana 3-1 Sudan: 4 Things We Learned As Ghana Records First Win at 2022 CHAN

 

Ghana were far from their flowing best, especially in the first half, but they produced the quality moments in the game and in the end ran out comfortable winners. Konadu Yiadom, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh and Seidu Suraj got the goals for the Black Galaxies with the Sudanese taking an early lead.

 

 

 

This was a tight, tense match that was always going to be higher on tension than quality. The stakes were incredibly high for both sides, with the losers destined to be missing out on the play-offs.

 

The game ebbed and flowed, with Sudan's more patient, considered approach helping them exert control in the early stages.Ghana came on strong after the interval, though, and it was they who probably shaded the closing 45 minutes. Sudan created chances of their own and, on another day, could have emerged victorious.

 

 

It would be fair to say that Annor Walker will not have been all that impressed with what he saw from his boys on Thursday, especially in the first half.

 

A lot of sideways and backwards passes, very little movement in attacking zones, a complete crisis of confidence and aversion to attempting anything remotely risky. 

 

Whether these players are just bad footballers or good ones playing like bad ones, it is unknown, but one thing is clear, Walker must get them playing at a higher level than they did on Thursday if he wants to make the team beat the drop. If they are unable to adapt and develop, there is only one response: replace them.

 

 

Save for four goals of obvious quality, this was a match notable for just the occasional moments of excellence from those on display. One player who did stand out, however, was David Abagna Sandan, who produced a complete midfield display that harnessed his somewhat unique blend of power and technique.

 

Stationed on the left of the midfield trio- quite evidently his favoured position- Sandan was afforded something of a free role as Dominic Nsobila and Sylvester Simba mopped up effectively behind him. Most of Ghana's best moments came through the RTU man, as he launched counter attacks and regularly wriggled free down the flanks. Buoyed by his decisive role, the midfielder then controlled affairs in the centre of the park. Sudan, at times, couldn't lay a glove on the Black Galaxies star.

 

 

From the off, Kordzi was on a mission to justify himself as to why he deserves a place in Annor Walker's team for the tournament. 

 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t his day; he was pulled from pillar to post by the Sudanese defence and rarely played in by those around him; understandably, he found it tough to hide his frustration.

 

There could be several reasons behind his poor run of form. Maybe he is lacking confidence or he is overworked and needs a bit of rest, or maybe his manager (s) tactics have rendered him ineffective in recent games.