Too early to write off Akonnor – Manso

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Oct 11, 2020. 16:00

Former Ghana international Frimpong Manso says it is too early to lay into Black Stars coach C.K. Akonnor, following a poor start to his tenure in charge of the team.

Ghana suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of regional rivals Mali in a friendly international in Turkey on Friday – Akonnor’s first match in at the helm of the Black Stars despite being in his post since early 2020.

“It’s too early to say that coach CK Akonnor is not capable of handling the national team,” Manso told Space FM, as quoted by Goal. “It’s just one match he has played. Let’s have patience for him and support him.”

The Eagles triumphed thanks to goals from Hamari Traore, El Bilal Toure and Amadou Haidara, running riot against a Ghanaian team which seemed unable to come to grips with their 4-1-4-1 formation.

The Black Stars also handed debuts to Alexander Djiku, Tariqe Fosu, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Eugene Ansah.

“It is a formation the players are used to in their various clubs, so it is not something new to them,” Manso explained. “Some players are fading out so we need to bring new boys on board to fit it.

“Our lateral defenders did not impress me at all. Still, the lateral defenders problem we used to complain about still exists.”

Ghana will return to action on Monday with a friendly against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, also set to be held in Turkey.