Ghana celebrating at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Once upon a time, football used to be a simple game; the teams involved played to win rather than not to lose, players freely expressed themselves and more often than not the team with the better players won.
It was easy to predict line ups because coaches back then picked the best players in the conventional football positions.
To have heard fans and pundits refer to players by their position would not have been uncommon. So, Roberto Carlos was a number 3, Franco Baresi a number 5, Abedi Pele a number 10 and Tony Yeboah a number 9.
However, modern football has gotten so scientific that, these days, it is not the teams with the best players alone that win games but those with the best of tactics and a little bit of luck that win.
Think Chelsea and Zambia in 2012! Modern footballers are given roles, primarily to nullify the threat of opposing teams and also exploit gaps where the opposition could be hurt most.
So, as Ghana prepares to take on Sudan this afternoon in Omdurman in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier, I will attempt to walk you through the possible tactical shape to be fashioned out by the two coaches; Ghana?s James Kwesi Appiah and Sudan?s Mohammed Abdallah a.k.a ?Mazda?.
Together, we will talk tactics, as basic as possible, so that whether you are a tactics rookie like my friend Pamela (who inspired this piece), or a tactics lover, you will watch tonight?s game from a curious tactical angle, won?t you? Well, let?s talk tactics then.
WHO TAMES SUDAN?S ?BRAZILIAN??
When a player is named after a Brazil legend like Careca, ex Napoli player, who played at the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals and scored about 30 goals for Brazil, then you know that player must be special.
It is the reason why Kwesi Appiah should pick wisely who partners John Boye in central defense to clip the quick feet of Sudan?s Mudathir Al Taieb a.k.a Careca.
The Al hilal striker at age 24 has established a huge reputation in his homeland with 54 goals for All Hilal and 11 so far for the national team.
His pace and trickery will require Boye and Partner to be quick and alert. With Ghana?s options a lot but lacking in experience, the decision is dicey.
Ordinarily, France based Jonathan Mensah should partner Boye but his lack of playing time suggests it will be a huge risk to start him.
The other options are Asante kotoko?s Rashid Sumaila and South Africa based Mohammed Awal.
Awal is the more experienced of the two having had some minutes at the last Nations Cup in South Africa, but if I were Kwesi, I would pick Sumaila for his mobility and sharpness.
Now to the full backs and specifically, the right side of defense; Harrison Afful would most likely start ahead of Samuel Inkoom and I expect TP Mazembe?s Richard Kissi Boateng to start ahead of the young Baba Rahman at the left side of defense.
The German based Rahman hasn?t been capped yet and it will not make tactical sense to throw him into the deep unless his form is such that it cannot be glossed over.
IN THE ABUNDANCE OF LEFTIES ?
Kwesi Appiah has selection problem. Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso and Sulley Muntari are all bona-fide candidates for a starring role on the left side of midfield, but thank heavens for modern football tactics, all four can be accommodated and their talents maximized on the night.
For me, Mubarak Wakaso should drop deep into defensive midfield to partner France based Rabiu Mohammed.
Both would be just ahead of the defense but with Rabiu stationed to break opposing attacks, mop up loose balls while Wakaso closes down the Sudanese midfielders and engineers attacks with his drive and energy.
He played and scored from this position last year when the Black Stars played against Cape Verde in a friendly ahead of the Nations Cup.
With Rabiu and Wakaso deployed this way, Sudan?s attacking midfielders like Mohamed Ahmed Bashir who engineers most of their attacks and is also a goal threat could be kept quiet.
Then I would expect Kwesi to deploy 3 players ahead of Rabiu and Wakaso; one on the left and the other on the right (the wingers), leaving one more place for a second striker or attacking midfielder to fill the hole between the wingers.
On the left I would start Kwadwo Asamoah and on the right I would start Dominic Adiyiah.
Adiyiah?s selection might sound controversial but for those who care to know, he has played 31 matches and scored 4 goals for his Ukrainian team, Arsenal Kiev and in most of these matches he operated from the wings. Indeed, he is used to this role from his days with Kpando Heart of lions.
What Adiyiah brings is enormous work rate down the wings. He and Kwadwo will offer support to the Stars attack and also help out with defensive duties when required.
I do not however see them doing a lot of defensive duties as the Sudanese channel most of their attacks through the middle as opposed to using their full backs like Balla Jabir who aren?t so adventurous.
IN BOAKYE YIADOM GHANA CAN TRUST
So, with the midfield looking water tight for Ghana, the big question will be where to play Captain Asamoah Gyan?
Should he be the lead striker or should he play in the hole as a second/ support striker.
In the corresponding fixture in Kumasi earlier this year, Gyan flourished in that role; scoring a goal and providing assists as Ghana beat Sudan 4-0.
You know what they say; if it isn?t broke, don?t fix it! I say leave him there; berate him all you can about his weight and physical shape, but Gyan possesses one of the sharpest football brains and if he cuts out the antics, you can be sure he will make light work of Sudan?s defensive midfielders like Al Merrick?s Eldin Yousif who will be tracking him.
From that position, Gyan will create chances for Italy based Richmond Boakye Yiadom who has already scored 2 goals in 5 appearances for the Black Stars and is most likely to have the striking role.
This is how the tactical shape looks like, soon it will be 17 hours GMT and Senegalese referee Ousmane Fall will signal for the match to begin, then we will all find out how good or bad my tactical prediction was. Until then let?s keep talking tactics.
Pamela is already getting the hang of it, so, kindly share as well.
