Will Ethiopia hand over Ghana’s chance to South Africa?
Group G of the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers in Africa is a tricky one with just two teams now on the hunt for qualification. But how will the other teams that make up the group influence the outcome of the group after the conclusion of the qualifier?
Ghana started off with a sloppy but important win over tomorrow’s opponents in Cape Coast before a near-empty stadium. That kept the Black Stars at the summit of the group with had the other match results going their favour when Zimbabwe held South Africa to a draw in Harare.
That, however, was the end of the merry road for the four-time African champions with their next match with was against now group leaders South Africa ending in a defeat after the Stars were outclassed in the field of play but only saved by the profligacy of their Bafana Bafana counterparts.
It nonetheless ended in a deserved defeat for the Black Stars but by a solitary goal. Ghana had a lot to blame for their defeat to the side they denied qualification to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. One of such reasons that were solely blamed for the defeat was the absence of some key players against South Africa with seven of the players who started that match in Cape Coast missing due to various reasons but prominently Covid-19 restrictions.
Fast forward, Ghana axed its head coach and replaced him and his assistants with Ghana’s 2010 world cup hero, Milovan Rajevac with two former players Otto Addo and Maxwell Konadu assisting him. The trio has since masterminded back to back victories against Zimbabwe which has enabled them to keep pace with South Africa, trailing by a point and a goal.
Ethiopian Twist
With Ethiopia out of the race, the Walias would be playing for pride but the fixture has become a tricky one that could be the determinant of who makes it to the final qualifying round between the Black Stars and the Bafana Bafana.
All the stadiums in Ethiopia were disqualified from hosting matches for the national team because they did not meet the standards. Ethiopia then had the option to choose a venue, the failure of which would mean the match would be played in Ghana. The Walias opted for the Orlando Stadium in Soweto to host the Black Stars. That option raised eyebrows with the GFA sending a protest to FIFA but it ended with the decision standing as made.
Ghana would play South Africa at home in Cape Coast in the final match of the group stage qualifiers. The home advantage would be a boost for the Stars but first, to ensure that home advantage counts, they must secure a win against the Walias in South Africa’s home. An added boost would be if Zimbabwe manages something concrete against their southern Africa.
But will the Black Stars get favourable results?
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
