Brazil clinched a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Black Stars in their encounter on Friday evening in France.
Marquinhos got the first goal via a corner and Richarlison added two more to end the game early in the first half. Ghana huffed and puffed in the second half but to no avail.
Here are five things we learned.
The new boys have potential
It was a bit surprising for Otto Addo to drop Inaki Williams, Salisu and Tariq Lamptey at the start of the game and go with the ‘old guard’ against Brazil.
A lot of people knew the quality coming into the team and expected at least two of them to start. Otto Addo learned quickly after the first half and brought the trio on to show their skills.
Mohammed Salisu in particular was a rock at the back, making a goal line clearance and also stopping each attack which came Ghana’s way.
Inaki Williams and Tariq Lamptey were promising as well. With Nicaragua lying in wait, Otto Addo must start all of them.
Thomas Partey is really needed
The Arsenal man is a key player at club level and possesses the quality to go toe to toe with the best in the globe.
He is well known for his press resistance and his penchant for breaking lines easily with accurate passes. During the team’s warmup, he complained of a knock and was quickly replaced by Baba Iddrisu leaving Ghanaians scared of what would happen.
And those fears were justified, with Brazil easily suffocating the Black Stars with their pressing early in the game. Partey needs to get himself fit, and fast. Otto Addo cannot afford to lose him in the world cup.
Ghana is not ready to compete in World Cup yet
Qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup gave many Ghanaians hope of a 2010 repeat where the Black Stars made a triumphant run to the quarter-finals, impressing the rest of the world along the way.
The hope was even heightened when Inaki Williams, Tariq Lamptey and others switched allegiance to Ghana.
But, inside the first 10 minutes, Brazil struck. The Seleccao struck again just before the half-hour mark and for the rest of the encounter, it looked like the Black Stars had faced something bigger and better than them.
The level of the team is now understood by fans; not the one ready to at least make it to the round of 16.
Mohammed Kudus needs to be pushed higher
The 22-year-old was perhaps one of the brightest lights in a subpar team performance against Brazil.
However, he had to weave his magic deep in midfield with Andre Ayew taking up the number 10 role, a role Kudus usually wants to play in for his country.
To get the best out of the team, players need to be put in their best positions. And Kudus will do even better further up the pitch.
Ghana’s forward line needs to be overhauled
Felix Afena-Gyan has barely played for his club and Jordan Ayew has not had much luck production-wise for Crystal Palace.
But, they were chosen to start and the performance of both players left little to be desired.
With an abundance of options now for Otto Addo, some consideration should be made on the places of Jordan and Felix with the likes of Inaki Williams, Ransford-Yeboah and others available.
