Amoakoh: Akonnor must up his game

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Nov 24, 2020. 12:00

George Amoakoh, member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council and the Black Stars Management Committee chairman, has called on national team coach C.K. Akonnor and his technical team to “sit up”.

Ghana suffered a surprise loss away to Sudan last week, with the result costing them the chance to book an early ticket to the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

“I hope that the technical team would sit up and correct all the errors; the errors that ensured that we could not score a goal [away to Sudan],” Amoakoh told Graphic.

“All the game was centred in the midfield and our incursions upfront did not yield any dividend. They should ensure that they are able to penetrate defences and score goals; that is the only way to win matches.

“We did not achieve what we sought to achieve; we thought we could either draw or win the game but it didn’t come off that way, and I think we need to learn a few lessons from that.

“We had a lot of problems with getting exactly what we wanted because of Covid-19 and other factors. You realised that there were a lot of late call-ups… but I believe that at the end of the day, what we had on the bench could have won us the game.

“It didn’t go the way we wanted; if it doesn’t go the way you want what does it mean? I am not a technical person to say the selection was bad.

“The only thing I can say is that how we played did not generate the needed goals to win the game, and for that matter, I would wish that the technical team do their best to ensure that subsequent games are won and won beautifully.”

Ghana will complete their AFCON qualification group with matches away to South Africa and at home to Sao Tome and Principe in March 2021.