Home Sports CK in or out? The case for and against Akonnor after 10 games in charge
Sports - September 8, 2021

CK in or out? The case for and against Akonnor after 10 games in charge

CK in or out? The case for and against Akonnor after 10 games in charge

It’s been 20 months since Charles Akonnor was appointed as head coach of the Black Stars. It is the biggest job of his career and as expected he has been under immense scrutiny from the onset.

Akonnor replaced an under-fire Kwasi Appiah, a coach he was assistant to just months prior. In a period of adversity, Ghana football had stooped to its lowest after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and then subsequently being knocked out in the round of 16 stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The country needed stability and a coach who had the vision to steer the Black Stars back to the pinnacle of not just African football, but world football.

The short term ambitions were to qualify for the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 World Cup. So far Akonnor has achieved the former, with the latter hanging in the balance after a painful to defeat to South Africa.

However, after just 10 games in charge, the call for Akonnor to vacate his post is getting ever louder.

The foundation had been laid with that performance and Ghanaians became expectant of the new look Black Stars.

Andre Ayew remained in inspiring form as his brace against Sudan gave Ghana all three points in the AFCON qualifiers.

Ghosts of the past revisited as a lackluster performance in the reverse fixture saw Ghana conceded late after creating almost nothing in front of goal.

10 months later and Akonnor’s men produce a carbon copy performance, this time in the World Cup qualifier at Johannesburg.

Ghana failed to create any clear cut chances and were on the back-foot for most of the game, eventually conceding a late goal due to poor marking.Ghana conceded a very avoidable goal against South Africa. A bit of communication in defence could have seen the situation handled way better.#RSAGHA pic.twitter.com/2Mc17to2nl

— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) September 6, 2021In between have been a draw with South Africa in March, a straightforward victory over Sao Tome and Principe, and two uninspiring friendlies against Morocco and Ivory Coast.

Prior to Ghana’s first competitive defeat against South Africa in 21 years, Ghana had narrowly beat 125th ranked side Ethiopia courtesy a long-range effort Mubarak Wakaso which just about crept under the keeper.

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