Ghana must fall on Attah for Nigeria clash
Veteran coach, Josef Emmanuel Sarpong, says the Black Stars technical handlers must keep faith with Hearts of Oak’s goalkeeper, Richard Attah, to stand between the sticks in next month's FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff against Nigeria.
He said Attah was agile, well-motivated and hungry for honours, and if chosen as the first choice goalkeeper for the two-leg encounter, he could better keep an eye on his defenders, communicate well with them to build a strong wall that will prevent Nigeria from regularly invading Ghana's goal area to cause havoc.
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Sarpong, who has handled many of Ghana's elite clubs and some national teams during his coaching career spanning over three decades, told the Graphic Sports that with Nigeria’s current form, it would not be easy for them to run over Ghana in such a major competition if Ghana invited the right players for the match.
Richard Ofori backup
Besides Attah, who is yet to make a start for the national team and was part of Ghana's AFCON squad, Coach Sarpong noted that it was worth recalling South Africa-based Richard Ofori, who last kept the posts for the Black Stars when Ghana lost 1-0 to South Africa in a World Cup qualifying match in Johannesburg last September.
The experienced Ghanaian shot-stopper, 28, has also lost his position at South African glamour side, Orlando Pirates, due to a combination of injuries and loss of form. Subsequently, 25-year-old Jojo Wollacott became Ghana's first choice goalie with seven appearances since making his international debut last October.
“In goalkeeping, the trainer [Richard Kingson] should have pencilled just about five key goalkeepers for observation for the upcoming match but not as many as 15 goalkeepers that he said publicly that he was currently observing for a single match,” said Coach Sarpong, who is currently unattached.
Stategic invitation
He noted that it was important for the Otto Addo-led technical team to undertake strategic invitation of players instead of disbanding the entire Black Stars team after their abysmal performance at the recent AFCON in Cameroun.
“Apart from goalkeeping, other departments that need to be strengthened to build a formidable team against Nigeria are the midfield and attack.
"We need to oil the midfield and sharpen the attack to ensure that we create and utilise the chances we create for us to win this crucial match and book a ticket to the Qatar 2022 Would Cup tournament.”
He advised Ghana's technical team to critically throw their net far and wide and invite players whose form are unquestionable and devoid of any injury to ensure that players on the bench are as sharp as the first team.
Ghana hosts Nigeria in the first leg clash on March 24 at the Cape Coast stadium and travel to Abuja for the return encounter at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on March 27 for one of Africa’s five slots at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
