Kudus, Nuamah key to Ghana's AFCON success
Renowned Ghanaian football legend, Mohammed Polo, has expressed his admiration for the exceptional talents of Black Stars duo, Mohammed Kudus and Ernest Nuamah, and firmly believes that the two rising stars can be the key to unlocking success for Ghana in their quest to end a four-decade-long African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy drought.
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The two gifted players have been instrumental in recent Black Stars matches, demonstrating their prowess by contributing crucial goals in consecutive games against the Central African Republic and Liberia.
Scoring prowess
Kudus, now plying his trade in the English Premier League with West Ham United, dazzled fans with a sensational goal in Kumasi two weeks ago, helping the team recover from an early deficit. Late in the match, substitute Nuamah sealed a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory against the Central African Republic, securing Ghana's 10th AFCON qualification.
Just four days later, these dynamic offensive midfielders graced the scoresheet once more, propelling Ghana to a resounding 3-1 victory against Liberia in a friendly match at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Kudus' stock has soared since his remarkable performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he contributed two crucial goals in Ghana's 3-2 triumph over South Korea in a group encounter at the Education City Stadium.
Polo, widely regarded as Ghana's most naturally gifted footballer ever, spoke glowingly of Kudus and Nuamah, labelling them generational talents whose contributions could significantly boost the national team's prospects. He emphasised the significance of having players capable of both scoring and creating goals, qualities vital for success.
Speaking with GNA Sports, Polo highlighted the intuitive connection between these two players on the field, envisioning their role in Ghana's AFCON success in Cote d'Ivoire and their crucial contribution to World Cup qualification.
“The telepathy between these two players could propel Ghana to AFCON success in Cote d'Ivoire and would also have a massive impact in our bid to qualify for the next World Cup.
Unique qualities
He acknowledged the rarity of having such talents on a single team and celebrated Ghana's fortune in possessing this duo, who possess not only creative abilities but also a knack for finding the net.
“It is very rare for Ghana to have these kinds of players on one team at a time but we are blessed to have this duo who are not just creators but scorers,” he admitted.
Nicknamed the 'Dribbling Magician' for his bag of tricks, Polo also emphasised that the recent moves to European clubs for Kudus and Nuamah would play a pivotal role in their development, ultimately benefiting the national team's progress. At just 19 years old, secured a season-long loan from FC Nordsjaelland to French Ligue 1 giants, Olympique Lyon, following a stellar performance in the Danish Superliga.
The 1978 AFCON winner expressed his delight at the progress of the young talents and urged fans to disregard any negativity they might encounter, especially on social media. He also highlighted the presence of more of such talents in Ghana,
and called for increased efforts to unearth them, particularly by supporting experienced footballers in establishing academies. --GNA
