New Leadership for Ghana

One of the benefits of adversity is that it provides an opportunity for new leaders to step up and improve the situation.

While the Stars have certainly been through a rough patch in 2006, and a loss to Senegal on Friday would officially turn that patch into a panic, there are some signs that this engaging leadership is starting to emerge.

In particular, defensive stalwart Samuel Osei Kuffour has been showing particular strength and leadership over the past weeks. Playing through pain throughout the Nigeria match, the defender reorganized and substantially tightened a defense that had been disorganized and mismanaged throughout the first three matches of the new year. The revived defense played a largely heady game, leading to a performance slightly better than many commentators expected.

What about the difference maker, one might ask. Surely a period of disorganization that cost an otherwise solid defense the match? On monday, during an interview taken whilst the defender was sitting out practice and nursing his sore haunches, Kuffuor played the man for once and took responsibility on his shoulders: “We lost because we disobeyed our coach’s instructions! Our coach had instructed us to always station somebody in front of the ball whenever Nigeria had free-kick. We didn’t do that in the dying minutes and we paid.”

For the first time this year, a Ghana player worthy to step up and take the mantle of blame. Now if only victories would follow from this good honest self appraisal. Kuffuor remains confident that they will: “But all is not lost because we still have two games against Senegal and Zimbabwe. If we win those games we’ll go through.”

If proving anything, the CAN will show which of the African world cup qualifiers should be the true representative of Africa in Germany. Prior to a disastrous 2006, commentators fancied Ghana for this role. As we have seen over the past week, leadership is shifting to the powerful Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia sides. Perhaps a strong finish will turn the tide around. Clearly the Senegal match is key in this regard.