Ghana 1-0 Botswana: player ratings

January 24th, 2012 | by: Gary | View Comments

Not a good show

Ghana won 1-0 in Franceville following an unconvincing game against Botswana. Here are my ratings for the players and their performances. Share your thoughts as well!

RATINGS

Adam Kwarasey – 6: The mark is not because he was poor but because he was idle for long spells because Botswana were so docile. The second half was a different story, but he stood firm except for when John Boye was needed to clear off the line.

John Boye -7: CAF named him Man of the Match and it was deserved. Good passing and distribution. Also worthy of mention was his performance when his captain was sent off. The back-line was shaky but he did his best.

John Paintsil -6: He was initially solid in the first half but delivery of crosses still needs improvement. He tired in the second half and after John Mensah’s red card, was stretched as the Zebras tried to utilize their left wing.

John Mensah -7: Hero or zero? You decide. On the basis of performance, he marshalled things typically well and then there was his rare goal. The red card was a downer, but he did take one for the team. Leaving his marker would have certainly led to a goal. Certainly.

Samuel Inkoom -6: As many suspected, the left back was alien to him but he did things simply and was helped by their lack of activity in the first half. In the second half, he was quite vulnerable. Then Goran moved to the right and did better. Not sure he should go back to the left back though…

Anthony Annan -4: He was surprisingly rigid. Goran would definitely have started him to be the creative part of a robust middle, but he was not up there in performance.

Sulley Muntari -6.5: The fact that he seems to have found a new lease alone is hugely commendable. Tactically he did what he was told and worked for the team – which is more than we can say with his performances for Ghana in the past year. He was often found behind his own center line taking balls and supplying the attack as well as helping with mopping up.

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu -6.5: Played an efficient game but not his best we’ve seen. With Muntari playing in a deeper role, he had to attack just behind Gyan but, as Chris Opoku put it, “because of his natural holding instincts, he checked his runs from time to time”.

Jordan Ayew -5: Simply did not play well, probably because he was deployed in the wrong place, on the right. He was content with off the ball movements which eventually was not enough. He’s better as a target man or as a real number 9.

Andre Ayew -6: Against a different team he may not have done so well, but the Zebras seemed to be in awe in the first half so he had his way. The second half saw more marking from Ghana’s new number 10. He could not impose himself on the game and overdid it at times.

Asamoah Gyan -6: He did not get the best service especially after Mensah’s red, so he moved several times out of position, which affected the team’s thrust. On the plus side, it’s been a good run out for him following his injury. He’ll be more confident in coming games.

SUBS

Masahudu Alhassan – 5: First real tournament experience and he still may need some schooling in crossing, just like Pantsil on the other side. His end of the field was also the focus of Botswana’s attacks and he found it hard to cope. For a debut, it was ok.

Jonathan Mensah – 6: Despite having little club time, he is yet to have a bad game for the team. Did well to help in duties once Mensah was off and Botswana pounded his area.

Mohammed Abu – N/A: Replaced Andre Ayew but time was too short.

Video Highlights:

Generally, a poor show, but the 3 points are in the bag.

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