Clouds hang over Ghana in 2015 African Cup Nations qualifying

Heavy heads, churning stomachs and lethargic limbs — many of us know exactly how a hangover feels. Thankfully, it usually lasts just a day. No hangover lasts weeks or months unless you are a Ghanaian football fan. In that case, your fury over your team’s lacklustre performance at the World Cup is still there.

The Black Stars finished bottom of their group in Brazil and made headlines for all the wrong reasons when the players threatened a boycott over bonus payments.


The government was forced to fly $3 million in cash to buffer against further embarrassment. On the field, there were not such riches, and the team, and its money, returned home before the knockouts.


The supporters have not forgotten that, and they certainly have not forgiven as was evident on Saturday. They all but deserted Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium for Ghana’s opening African Nations Cup qualifier against Uganda, with reports from the venue describing the stands as “very empty” an hour before kickoff.


The few who bothered to turn up would have been disappointed to find that the Black Stars have not rediscovered their shine.


They conceded the first goal and were outplayed by a Uganda side that held on for a 1-1 draw but can consider itself unlucky not to take all three points.

Ghana’s equalizer came through a penalty that Uganda coach Milutin Sredojevic called “suspicious” in his post-match interview.


“The penalty changed things because there was no challenge, but I am used to this because I have been coming to Ghana since 1996 and it is always like this,” Sredojevic said.


“It would have been deserving of us to win judging from the commitment and hard work of the players.” Uganda have not qualified for an ANC in 37 years but came close in 2013 when they narrowly missed out after taking then-defending champion Zambia to a marathon penalty shootout before losing 9-8.


They played with an energy that suggested they could change that this time but will need to build on a sprightly start. In contrast, Ghana have to find their spark quickly if they want to get people back on their side.


Postmatch news conferences were postponed from Saturday to Sunday because officials feared a crowd riot, and the team fled Kumasi to train in Accra ahead of its match in Lome against Togo on Wednesday. Pressure is mounting on Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, with speculation growing that he requested a technical adviser to assist him, even though he has denied asking for help.

Unless Ghana show vast improvement in their next game, more people may feel Appiah needs an additional member in his backroom staff, whether he wants it or not.


At least the coach did not carry the blame in Calabar, where Nigeria’s Super Eagles had their wings clipped by Congo.


The 3-2 defeat, the first in a home competitive match in 33 years, highlighted the importance of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who is out of the side for personal reasons, and their complacency as the current champion.


Nigeria took the lead and then allowed the defence to relax as they let in two goals before halftime against a side coached by a man who knows African football better than most. Claude Le Roy took over Congo in December and is focused on developing a young side that can compete on the continental stage. Already, it has shown its promise.


Stephen Keshi was not surprised by the Congolese approach but was disappointed in his team’s lack of inventiveness.

“I’ve played against the Congolese team before, and I know they play tip-tap football. We scored the first goal, and that was it,” he said.


“I told them they were not playing their game. They were not themselves, they were not playing, they were second to the ball, and they needed to change the mentality.”


On social media and other online forums, Nigerians expressed disappointment in the players rather than the coach and expect a better showing against South Africa on Wednesday.


At least the World Cup haze has lifted for Ivory Coast and Cameroon, which both recorded victories in their openers.


Herve Renard began his tenure in charge of the Elephants with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Sierra Leone while the Indomitable Lions entered the post-Samuel Eto’o era with a 2-0 victory over DRC.

Algeria, Africa’s best-performing team in Brazil, continued on the upward curve. They beat Ethiopia 2-1 in Addis Ababa to ensure no drama for them on the road to Morocco just yet.