Satellites desperate after Nigeria slip

The glum faces of Ghana coach Orlando Wellington and his captain Mahatma Otoo as they sat through the post game press conference at the Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg told a story on its own.

Their words suggested men under incredible pressure to get it right.

Moments after Ghana had started the defence of their African Youth title on the wrong footing, Wellington was fumbling with his words as he attempted to explain the loss while still instilling confidence in his team.

Tactical indiscipline he insisted had let down his side. They had wanted to play ball instead of clear ball on a pitch bound to make even Lionel Messi struggle with ball control.

But he knew he did not have to blame the pitch either. It's shocking the Confederation of African Football allowed a tournament so cherished by others on the despicable pitch.

Wellington though was correct in pointing out that despite the poor nature of the pitch, they had created enough chances to score more than one goal and done enough to get away with zero point.

And as he sat with the sad look on his face and fumbled his words, he knew too what this would mean.

"By this time our name will be all over the radio," he said. Otoo had same on his mind when he asked another Ghanaian journalist here what was the main talking point in Ghana.

Later one official spoke of how they would be roasted on fire for fire hosted by Patrick Osei Agymemang.

For all those quick to downplay the media's influence and power, I have news for you. We still play on the minds of everyone who matters even if you will not like our ways.

Hopefully after the second group game in Thursday the player's would be seeking media reaction for more positive reasons.

Gambia, well built, and with imposing aerial strength will be the opponents. And in the evidence of the way they played against Gambia, watched in the first hake by Wellington and his players they will be in for a tough day's job in the sometimes bitter cold of Johannesburg.

There is reason for Ghana fans to be both hopeful and dreadful abed of that meeting. On two of the three occasions that Ghana became African champions at the Under-20 level, the start was slow. In 1993, the Satellites lost on the opening day to Cameroon. In 2009 they drew 1-1 against the same country.

On both occasions the response was positive and the manner the current squad responded when they went down to Nigeria's opening goal was encouraging.

The domination of possession was spot on, they created chances, they asked good questions of the Nigeria side and yet they demonstrated what is becoming a sad Ghanaian trait; poor finishing in front of goal. Kwame Nsor scored one when he could have had a hat trick. James Bissue blew a golden opportunity by taking one touch too many inside the penalty box. Ebo Andoh missed a gilt edged chance too.

If they can get it right on that day they Orlando will be wearing a more encouraging look on his face in the post match press conference.

He admits there will be a great deal of pressure on his side. They would be carrying the burden of an entire nation.

It's a burden demanding badly for the county to provided some cheer. There has been too much bad news on the field of play. The headlines has been like a who us who of failure. The Starlets flopped, the Meteors were dumped early. The Black Queens have been clueless.

Wellington admits they must change the negativity creeping into Ghana football. They will be hoping they can draw from the examples of 1993 and 2009.

If you are steeped in negativity too, you will be dreading this could be a repeat of 2003.

Then Ghana had emerged from the 2001 World Championships as the second best placed team behind Argentina. They went to Burkina Faso two years later with Derek Boateng the star of the show.

They were sent packing after the first round. Here Bright Addae has come with the experience of having won the World Youth Cup. These are uncomfortable times. The nerves will jingle before the step out unto the pitch on Thursday.

And while the pitch at the Dobsonville Stadium tucked inside Soweto is incredibly poor for a competition of this nature, it will not be an excuse for failure.

It has felt at times while here that the South Africans were not entirely interested in hosted this. That they have been forced into bailing out the continent.

Everything about it seems rushed. There is a feeling of uninterested from the host whereas two years ago Rwanda embraced the same competition as if it meant everything to them and went about hosting it with a real sense of gratitude.

That said though the tournament has already thrown up some intestine players. Nigeria's Ahmed Musa looks a decent fit. Looks like he will be flying along those flanks for the Eagles for years to come.

From a Ghanaian perspective Richmond Nketia at right back looks set to continue a tradition of fantastic players in that position for Ghana with thrilling runs and an ability to deliver pin point crosses.

Kwame Nsor has build that should serve him well in his career in Europe but the big question after the opening game is whether he has the football brains to match. There were hit and miss moments against Nigeria.

The good thing is he will have many years to get it right. And then Karim Alhassan, the Hearts of Oak player sold another master class in central defence.

The game also highlighted two classic Ghanaian problems. That left back is a chronic Achilles hills and that as a nation scoring goals remains a major deficiency. They all contributed to an opening day defeat that has visited gloom on the Satellites camp. They must sort those out if they are to replace that with glee after the Gambia game.

It will be nice to see a smile on Orlando's face. A bit like he wore when as siting Sellas Tetteh at the 2009 edition.