Following their mixed international break in October, Ghana evidently had some issues to figure out before they can move ahead.
The Black Stars will be soon competing with Sudan in the qualifying double-header for the African Cup of Nations. The pair of fixtures will greatly influence whether they will be able to reach the 2020 Afcon or not.
Based on their performance against Mali where they lost 3-0, Ghana will get in some serious trouble against the Falcons of Jeddiane, if they are not able to boost up the performance.
However, a couple of old heads are back into the side to help the Black Stars get back into the game.
The question remains, whether the four old heads brought back into the team will have anything to offer.
Jeffrey Schlupp
Nobody knows why Schlupp, a Premier League winner has enjoyed such limited career in international soccer.
No one can argue his qualities, versatility and successes as he has made it clear with his performance. Still, in the last 3 years, he has made only one international appearance that too in a friendly match against Mauritania last year. He is rarely seen in the regular role among the Stars.
Schlupp has a lot to offer for the Black Stars, and we expect that he must be kept as an option within the squad. The Sudan games will be an excellent opportunity for him to again reaffirm his value for the team.
Abdul Rahman Baba
Baba is one of the most noteworthy returnees to the team. His inclusion in the team allows him to rebuild his international career. We saw Baba last in the 2019 African Cup of Nations squad.
Although he has returned to the fold last summer, we haven’t seen him playing for the Black Stars since early 2017. Due to his major injury during the Afcon in Gabon, Baba was given rest and has found it hard to return ever since. This has resulted in a nosedive in the left-back’s career. Currently, he plays with Chelsea’s second team. We don’t think anyone will be saving him from his Stamford Bridge purgatory anytime soon.
Amidst all the downfall, a recall for the double-header is an opportunity for Baba to state his value for the West African side.
John Boye
Boye was last seen playing for Ghana during the 2019 African Cup of Nations. Akonnor, even though after selecting the dual national centre-back (Alexander Djiku of Strasbourg) still chose to find his defence from the old a lot for the upcoming double-header.
One might point out the advancing years of Boye, but no one can argue against his leadership and commanding presence in the backline. For the Stars, this would mean his presence will be able to avoid any kind of defensive malaise that we saw the team struggling with during the first half against Mali.
Boye is still a Ligue 1 regular despite being 33. Even you can see him picked as a favorite by any best soccer betting site.
Harrison Afful
It is for the first time that Afful is returning to the team after his appearance against Ethiopia in 2018. For one of the most genuine stalwarts of Ghana in the past century, that’s a long time to be in the wilderness.
Afful can be seen continuously performing high in Major League Soccer. The experience of the 34-year-old, West African player cannot be questioned and will most likely add security to the much-changed Black Stars team.
We hope to see the Black Stars make an impact in the upcoming double-header and pave the way for the 2022 African Cup of Nations.
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