Former Black Stars defender Edwin Gyimah has praised the mentality, quality, and resilience of Ghanaian players, revealing how former captain Asamoah Gyan often inspired the team to abandon rigid tactics and rely on their natural street football instincts when matches became difficult.
Speaking about Ghana’s run to the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Gyimah recalled how Gyan’s leadership and winning mentality played a crucial role in motivating the players during challenging moments.
According to Gyimah, whenever the team’s tactical approach failed to produce results, Gyan would encourage the players to return to the style of football they grew up playing on the streets.”Whenever the coach arranges his tactics and we are playing with no success, when we go to the dressing room, he (Gyan) would say, ‘Let’s adopt street local football.’ He will tell Wakaso, ‘I am going to the top; when you get the ball, strike it to me,'” Gyimah recounted.
He further explained how the players embraced the approach on the pitch.”We will play boot for boot with you before you realize it is a goal,” he added.
Gyimah noted that Gyan’s confidence and ability to psyche up his teammates often lifted the team’s performance in difficult situations. Ghana eventually reached the final of the 2015 AFCON tournament but suffered a heartbreaking defeat on penalties, narrowly missing out on the continental title. The Black Stars were coached by former Chelsea trainer Avram Grant during the Afcon held in Equatorial Guinea.
