New Ghana Chris Hughton has given his verdict on his team’s performance against Angola.
Ghana head coach Chris Hughton has outlined a perfect game plan that’s needed against Namibia, Bafana Bafana’s opponents in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Bafana would have been keen observers of Namibia’s friendly against Ghana, where their Southern neighbours held the Black Stars to a goalless draw in Kumasi on Monday.
Both sides were preparing for the Afcon tournament in Ivory Coast, with the Brave Warriors in the same group as Bafana while the Black Stars are paired with Egypt, Mozambique and Cape Verde in Group B.
Ghana named a strong line-up that had the likes of Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams, Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew while Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori also started.
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Namibia also had PSL stars, Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns), Deon Hotto (Pirates) and Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu) in the line-up, as they restricted the Black Stars to a stalemate.
Hughton, who was disappointed with the draw, revealed the Brave Warriors’ approach and believes to get the better of them, they needed to be better with their ball circulation.
“What was evident is that we were up against a team with a lot of energy, a lot direct in the way that they play, 4-4-2, looked to search behind, good runners behind,” Hughton said in a post-match press conference.
“And around that, what you need to be able to do is keep the ball well enough and in the first-half period I thought our ball-retention was not good enough, which made it difficult for us
“When you’ve got a team that plays 4-4-2, narrow and high energy, then the travel of the ball has got to be quicker, so I don’t think we were good enough on the ball in the first-half period,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin was happy with the result against a side he considers one of the favourites for the Afcon tournament.
“For us it’s a plus and gives us hope if we’re able to create these chances (against Ghana). Ghana, the Black Stars they are the household on the continent, very good team, rich history, they are always favourites at the Afcon. It was difficult for them against a hungry team. They are a force to be reckoned with,” Benjamin said in a press conference.
“We want to do better than we did last time, we want to make our nation proud, we’re not only playing for ourselves but we’re brave warriors,” he added.
Bafana will be up against Namibia next Sunday 21 January, in their second game of Group E.
