Felix Romark, a sports analyst has commended the newly appointed coach of the Black Stars Chris Hughton for starting on a winning note.
Antoine Semenyo scored a last-minute goal to secure a 1-0 win for Ghana against Angola in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kumasi on Thursday.
A star-studded Ghana had struggled to open up the stubborn Angola defence at a packed Baba Yara Sports Stadium before Semenyo poked home the goal deep in stoppage time, following a goalmouth melee.
Appearing on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (24 March), Romark said Hughton gives Ghanaians a lot of confidence.
“One thing of note is that the subs that Chris Hughton brought on made an impact and that is what we want to see. A coach who can change the game if needed with substitutions,” he said.
“It is clear that this coach has personality, which can be seen in the benching of Andre Ayew and even Salis Samed, who did not start because he was late for camp … Through no fault of his own but because of visa issues; yet he was benched,” Romark said.
Near draw
The match was seemingly headed for goalless draw before Ghana got a free-kick which Angola goalkeeper Cipriano da Cruz spilled and as both sets of players scrambled for the ball, it fell to Semenyo who hit home his second goal for the Black Stars.
Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana had come close for Ghana with their efforts drawing good saves from Cipriano before substitute Semenyo came to their rescue with the last kick of the game.
Chris Hughton had gone for experience in his first game in charge of the Black Stars, starting with Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, Denis Odoi and Gideon Mensah in defence with captain of the day Thomas Partey marshalling the midfield alongside Edmund Addo.
Sulemana and Jordan Ayew were deployed on the wings with Kudus playing the No10 role just behind Inaki Williams. Partey impressed in midfield with his defence-splitting passes finding Williams and Kudus but the attackers failed to make good use of them.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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