Ghana wrapped up their Kirin Cup participation with a 1-0 loss to South Korea on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s defeat means the four-time African champions leave Asia with two defeats and without a goal, having lost 2-0 to Japan on Friday.
Subsequently, there are key decisions for coach Otto Addo to make ahead of the final international break before the World Cup.
Yirenkyi’s near perfect audition
Ghanaians love an expressive, confident midfielder and Caleb Yirenkyi embodied that today.
There was a moment in the second half when he received a pass perilously close to danger, with two Black Berets approaching.
His first touch took the ball to his left, inviting the opponent to press him. Lee Kang-In took the bait and pressed with full agility. Yirenkyi simply stepped back, sending the PSG winger into the Japan-Korea undersea tunnel.
When another Black Beret approached, he simply shifted to his right to buy himself more space and time before finding Kwasi Sibo, who, like the millions watching, was entranced by the spectacle.
It was marvelous.
But even more impressive was how he kept Ghana’s attack fluid by connecting the other moving parts. His passing was precise, he was in the right space to close down opponents and when a teammate was in trouble, Yirenkyi was often their get out of jail card.
The only blemish in an otherwise spotless performance was the penalty he conceded. Otherwise, it was a magnificent audition for a central midfield role in the Black Stars.
Seidu Alidu is a problem
Moving Yirenkyi into midfield means Seidu Alidu the automatic choice for the right wing back position, right? Not quite.
Alidu has not done enough to own the position.
While he remains defensively sound, he is a liability at the other end of the pitch.
In defence, he is competent. Aggressive in the tackle, quick, he is disciplined and has a good sense of what to do to stop an opponent. Even his critics would admit that there are no significant question marks about his defending.
At the other end of the pitch, however, is where his weaknesses manifest. It is almost as if he is a different player once he crosses the center line.
There was a moment in today’s match when he was caught in two minds when all he had to do was to execute a cut back for Prince Adu Kwabena.
The game appeared to move too fast for him and before he could process the situation, the opportunity was whisked away by a timely Kim Min Jae clearance.
At the World Cup, every moment counts and Alidu’s inability to produce in attack may cost the team.
With no ready-made replacements, Otto Addo needs to draw a rabbit out of the hat. Or hope that when Tariq Lamptey returns from ACL injury, he will still be as good.
Sulemana’s time is up
Kamaldeen Sulemana’s talent is not in doubt. On his day, his Wärtsilä RT-flex96C engine can power him past any defender.
On counter breaks, Sulemana’ pace makes him a devastating weapon to have.
However, even on his best days, the best you can hope for, is that he releases the ball before his indecisiveness foils the attack.
In September, the Atalanta winger marked five years of being in the national team. In that time, he has played under five different coaches; Charles Akonnor, Milovan Rajevac, Otto Addo, Chris Hughton and Otto Addo again.
Each of them has been able to create the right tactical context for him. For a winger, that often means facing an isolated full back and space behind them to attack.
For five years, Sulemana has not produced anything meaningful when put in very rewarding situations.
Even when he comes off the bench, his end product nullifies his devastating pace.
If he cannot produce in any situation when in the Black Stars, why should Kamaldeen Sulemana continue to be in the team?
Back to Baba?
It has been two years since Baba Rahman decided to take a break from the Black Stars.
In that time, Hamidu Fatawu, Patrick Kpozo, Ebenezer Annan, Derrick Kohn and Gideon Mensah have rationed left back or left wing back duties. Of the lot, Gideon Mensah has featured more prominently.
None of them has performed without question.
As a result, Ghanaians have reluctantly accepted the fact that the left back or wing back position can not be trusted to contribute anything meaningful in any game.
Perhaps it would be time to consider talking Baba Rahman out of his self-imposed exile. If only he still has plans of representing Ghana.