Ghana must rebuild after heartbreaking loss

In 2009, Ghana became the first African nation to win a FIFA tournament by winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

The following year, they almost became the first African nation to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-final, sadly defeating Uruguay on penalties. It seems that a new golden era of Black Stars football is on the horizon.

Twelve years later, Ghana is back to square one.

Heading into their final Group H game against Uruguay, the Black Stars were in the driver’s seat to advance. A win would have guaranteed their place in the round of 16.

A draw would have worked if Portugal had beaten South Korea.

Before the game, the media and fans describe the matchup as a revenge match, but the players downplay those claims.

Before the match, a Ghanaian journalist tells Luis Suárez about his poor reputation in the West African nation due to his handball in 2010.

“I don’t apologize for that, I made the hand but the Ghanaian player [Asamoah Gyan] He missed the penalty, not me.

I could apologize if I injured a player with a tackle and got a red card, but in this situation, I get a red card and the referee calls a penalty.”

When retouching goes wrong

Head coach Otto Addo made two changes to his starting lineup. He replaced full-backs Gideon Mensah and Tariq Lamptey with Baba Rahman and Alidu Seidu.

The latter were the worst performers in Ghana’s 3-2 loss to Portugal.

For them, returning to the starting eleven in the most important game of their campaign was confusing.

In addition, another formation change occurs as the Black Stars line-up in 4-2-3-1 with Mohammed Kudus as the only striker.

The plan seemed effective as Kudus took a penalty early in the match. After a thorough VAR review, captain Andre Ayew steps up to take the penalty for Ghana.

Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet blocked the attempt. In minute 26, a cross goes into the 18-meter area.

Daniel Amartey and Seidu fail to clear the ball. Suárez shoots the ball. Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi blocks the shot, but Arrascaeta’s Giorgian heads the ball into the net with a simple header.

Another positional error by Seidu leaves De Arrascaeta unmarked, and the midfielder completed a brace.

Too late

At half time, Addo replaces Ayew and his younger brother, Jordan. He can mark the end of an era. Andre is a member of the Black Satellites team that made history in 2009 and is on the 2010 team that lost to La Celeste in South Africa.

The brothers are considered by many to be symbols of nepotism because their father is arguably the greatest Ghanaian soccer player of all time in Abedi Pele.

In 2013, they surprisingly retire from international football. The Ghana Football Association successfully convinces them to come back shortly.

Subsequently, they are always selected for national team duty, even if they are unfit for their respective clubs. Substitutions are fruitless as Ghana fail to score and miss a golden opportunity.