Ghana inspire optimism ahead of Rwanda clash

Inviting Ghana to face their national team in an exhibition match to unveil the newly built Kintele Stadium, Congo knew exactly what they were in for: namely, a good duel, and a testing evening against one of the continent’s finest sides.

Perhaps Congo hadn’t expected Ghana to be just as accomplished as they were, with the Black Stars rousing themselves yesterday to a 3-2 victory clinched at the death.

Versatile 22-year-old Congo midfielder Sagesse Babele got two of the new 60,000-seater arena's first three goals, including the opener, past his own keeper, a gift for Ghana.

Sandwiched between those two strikes was Richmond Boakye Yiadom's goal that had put Ghana 2-0 up just two minutes after Babele's own goal had sparked the scoring. Youthful substitute Hardy Binguila tied the score on 90 minutes, but there was just enough time for one of Ghana's own introductions, the ever unpopular Jordan Ayew, to nick it for the guests.

Rwanda manager Johnny McKinstry would be grossly mistaken, however, if he felt this match gave away any precious clues as to how he might fell Ghana ahead of the weekend's Afcon 2017 Group H qualifier between the pair in Kigali. For one, Ghana's initial line-up against Congo—for reasons head coach Avram Grant had little control over—was far from the team’s strongest starting XI.

An unfortunate combination of delayed arrivals and untimely injuries saw Grant grant the likes of Daniel Nii Adjei and Yaw Frimpong (who play just across the Congolese border for TP Mazembe) as well as five members of the Ghana national U23 team (currently in the Congo for the 2015 All-Africa Games) late call-ups.

Of the lot, Nii Adjei and Black Meteors defender Lawrence Lartey started, while Grant's decision to include Solomon Asante, Boakye Yiadom, Edwin Gyimah and Bernard Mensah among the starting XI—not involving skipper Asamoah Gyan and Jordan till after recess, while Andre Ayew, arguably the Stars' most in-form player at present, failed to appear altogether—provided further proof that this was no serious affair, at least from the Ghanaian perspective.

Heck, even the chosen kit on the day—an atypical uniform of white shirts over black shorts—emphasized that much.

Still, Ghanaians need not fret.

A full-strength Stars side will certainly be capable of performing better when they take on Rwanda, and Grant will hope to maximally harvest the momentum of each individual in his squad, with 14 of those originally called up having only joined new clubs (either on loan or in permanent deals) this summer.

The contest in Congo may have proved little more than it had been billed as but, if nothing else, it did provide Grant the chance to assess other options that might be viable in the short and long-term.

For the Israeli, however, it did serve another fine purpose, albeit one largely of personal benefit.

In the build-up to this week's international dates, Grant had faced criticism over his perceived lack of regard for local footballers relative to selection of material for the senior national team. It is, of course, a charge that he has shielded himself from.

"For me there is no local or foreign player; my doors are opened to all. All of them are Ghanaian players who need to give everything for their country," the 60-year-old told the Ghana FA's official website last week.

Thus, the Congo clash was as opportune—and fortuitous—an occasion as any to demonstrate that stance, with Lartey, Kennedy Ashia, Samuel Tetteh, Patrick Asmah and Baba Mensah (all with the Meteors on the aforementioned assignment) the beneficiaries.

Come Saturday, though, expect Grant to stick to his 'normal' picks and, in turn, expect those regulars to swing much harder than their understudies did in Tuesday's friendly.

Rwanda, beware.