By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (January 19^th 2022)

Dismal

Ghana’s Black Stars limped out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last night after a dismal performance. Despite failing to win a single match and finishing bottom of Group C, Milovan Rajevac refused to resign, claiming that his main task was qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.

South Africans took to social media to celebrate, claiming that the Black Stars’ failure was punishment for cheating South Africa and that Ghana must apologise to them. Ghanaians want a review to establish the cause of the debacle. Among those calling for a review is Ghanaian and African legend, Ibrahim Sunday.

He criticised the preparation and behaviour of the players and technical aspects. “It was very bad preparation’” Sunday explained and the technical aspects were not right too. He was extremely dissatisfied with the way the team played and the attitude of Ghana in this tournament. “Look at match they played. They shoot only twice. You can’t win like that.”

Indiscipline

Sunday, one of Ghana’s greats, was part of the Black Stars’ technical team at the last AFCON. Kwesi Appiah was sacked after exiting in the last 16. After yesterday’s humiliation, which included the first goals ever scored at AFCON by the Comoros and the islands’ first ever win, which consigned the four-time AFCON winners to last place in the group, how would Appiah’s performance be assessed?

 The Ghanaian legend was in no doubt about a major problem that had to be fixed. He reserved his strongest criticism for the indiscipline. “They weren’t disciplined,” he said. “They were always complaining to referees. You can lose concentration by doing that and it affects the way you play.”

The emotion and indiscipline that followed had a bad effect. Captain, André Ayew, was at the centre of much of it. He could and, perhaps should have had a penalty in the first match against Morocco. Then there was the brawl against Gabon in the second because the Black Stars were incensed over Gabon’s refusal to return the ball after Baba Rahman put it out so Daniel-Kofi Kyere could get treatment.

Fair Play is not compulsory. There was nothing that referee, Lahlou Benbraham could do about the goal Jim Allevinah scored to salvage a point for the Panthers. And after the match Ayew was led away before he could confront the referee. Others indulged in a mass brawl.

“It’s too much,” Sunday said. “The indiscipline was too high. I don’t think they have been disciplined enough.”

Ayew was controversially sent of after a VAR review of his challenge on the goalkeeper as he tried to score against the Comoros in the final Group C matches. The Black Stars went on to lose 3-2 and bow out of Cameroon’s AFCON. The 40-year wait will get even longer.

But Sunday reserved his strongest opinions for Benjamin Tetteh. During the brawl, Tetteh, landed a left hook on Aaron Boupendza’s face. This was too much for Sunday. If he had still been on Ghana’s technical team, what would he have done. “Suspend him,” Sunday said. “I would suspend throughout AFCON and beyond.

“He must learn his lesson. He must understand that he is representing Ghana. It is a great honour to represent 30m people and that requires exemplary behaviour and discipline.”

He would not end Tetteh’s international career, but the African legend was adamant. Discipline is vital and Tetteh and his teammates have to learn that. And as for the coach. Rajevac says he never criticises officials, but that did not filter through to his players. Is he the right man to take Ghana forward to the World Cup Qualifier in March?