By: Former Kenya star Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno
As a coach and former player, I am putting my money on the Black Stars of Ghana to win a fifth African Cup of Nations title. They have the best style of play which has led many to christen them the ‘Brazilians of Africa’.
They not only attack with venom but as also defend as a unit. Apart from that, they also play a high-pressing game with meticulous discipline. In recent years they have come close but fallen short. However, when they line up against Cote d’Ivoire tonight I believe they will prevail. Winning the cup will be a befitting gift to millions of their fans back home and their Israeli coach Avram Grant.
It should also be understood that it has been 33 years since the Black Stars lifted the title and the long wait makes it special for the players.
Tonight’s match therefore presents a great opportunity for Ghana to end that long wait, and I believe they will measure up to the challenge.
Coincidently, just like Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana begun the tournament on a rather sluggish note losing 1-2 to Senegal in their opening group match but have since improved with each passing game topping their group before dispatching Guinea and Equatorial Guinea with an identical 3-0 wins to ease into the final.
That is telling and the Cote d’Ivoire will have to be very careful.
Credit also go to their coach Grant. He is a level headed figure who has brought the best out of his players. For the first time in a long time, squad is playing as a team and for each other. They are also putting their bodies on the line and ready to die for the flag. This has ensured that personal ambition does not override the national goal.
That aside, I tend to believe that the Black Stars are tactically gifted than the Elephants. Kwesi Appiah and Christian Atsu have impressed me the most; Appiah because despite this being his first major tournament, he has taken the challenge in his stride to showcase the world that he is ripe for the big stage. He has come in and really done well.
POOR DEFENSIVE RECORD
Atsu on the other hand has not only scored fantastic goals but has also proved that he is ready to fill in for Asamoah Gyan whenever the need arises. On a scale of one to ten, I give Ghana an 8.0 chance of lifting the diadem.
Ivory Coast’s major undoing is their ageing defence which I think will find it hard to cope with the pace and enterprise of the marauding Ghanaian forwards.
Apart from that, I think they lack the discipline and concentration at the back. We saw them concede an unnecessary penalty against the Democratic Republic of Congo and such mistakes could prove costly against a well-oiled Ghanaian machine.