Felix Afena Ohene – Gyan started the first leg of the FIFA World Cup qualification play – off against Nigeria last Friday.
The AS Roma teenager was the main focal point of the Ghana attack – with Jordan Ayew operating from the left flank and Fatawu Issahaku from the right side.
Otto Addo’s decision to start the 19-year old perhaps might be partly due to the fact that the team lacks attackers currently unlike the Super Eagles who have plenty of strikers playing at the top level of European football.
Victor Osimhem of Napoli, Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, Emmanuel Dennis of Watford, Odion Ighalo a former Manchester United striker. More than enough options.
And so with Afena starting in such a crucial World Cup qualifier it was a great opportunity for him to stake a claim for a regular spot on the team in subsequent matches.
On the other hand, it was too much of a burden rested on an experienced footballer who had zero international games.
When Majeed Waris emerged at the Black Stars , he had Asamoah Gyan by his side in the Ghana attack.
In fact when Asamoah Gyan himself started playing for the national team in 2003, there were the likes of Ablade Morgan, Nana Arhin Duah, Sulley Muntari, Mattew Amoah, Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and co who were the main players and goalscorers for the team and so the integration of the all-time top scorer of Ghana in the Black Stars happened smoothly, fortunately for him.
https://twitter.com/ohenegyanfelix9/status/1508087879335043081
Of course Gyan worked hard to score those 51 goals for Ghana but he was fortunate to have had those quality guys around him.
Jordan has lost form , for a very long time, for both club and country and Fatawu is as inexperienced as Afena.
The spotlight of the Black Stars number 9 role is currently on him and this puts a huge burden on the 19-year old attacker of AS Roma brought to the limelight by Jose Mourinho.
Follow Gariba Raubil on Twitter : @GRAUBIL
