It has been exactly 112 days since Kwesi Appiah was officially unveiled as Black Stars coach.
In this period he has shown to Ghanaians what many have expected to see: a perceived tactical bankruptcy for his doubters, flashes of a genius for his apologists and a mix of both for the neutrals.
The 56-year-old – despite his not-so-bad record for the Black Stars – has always had to deal with questions about whether he is indeed the man to take the Black Stars to the next level.
And with the ghosts of his first stint still yet to be completely exorcised, many believe the dark clouds have again started hovering over his head after he supervised one of the worst-ever showings by the Black Stars in last Thursday’s world cup qualifier against Congo Brazzaville.
Appiah was brought in to change a lot of things in this Ghana side. He was supposed to serve free-flowing football unlike like the dull, uninspiring displays that characterized Avram Grant’s stay. There were many hurdles too to surpass – both from a personal and a team perspective.
In truth, he passed the first test by leading Ghana to a 5-0 drubbing of Ethiopia in the opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. However, three games after and Appiah is back to square one and will have to prove his worth to the Black Stars faithful all over again.
He was brought in to be the Aladdin of this Ghana team, or at worst the Genie that helps to transform this group of underperforming stars into genuine world beaters. But on Thursday he was neither Aladdin nor the Genie. He looked more like the docile lamb (for those who know this tale), as he helplessly watched his Black Stars team lose grounds on a qualification spot to Russia 2018.
Poor player selection? Check. Poor tactics? Check. A lack of courage? Check. No inspiration from the bench? Check.
And to compound to his worries, the Black Stars will be without a quartet of Appiah’s most trusted players as they embark on this make or break trip to Brazzaville.
The Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, have been ruled out of the clash due to injury and illness respectively. Afful Harrison, the only natural right-back in the squad, will also be missing after aggravating his injury during a cameo appearance against the Red Devils last Thursday.
Influential captain and Ghana’s all-time top scorer AsamoahGyan will also take no part in the crucial encounter, having also failed to recover from a groin injury. Then there is also the traumatized Ebenezer Ofori who was robbed off his Range Rover car and other valuables at gun point barely 24 hours to this massive game.
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It’s definitely a situation no coach would like to find himself in. But for all the talk about the players that are going to miss the Congo clash, it actually presents Appiah with the opportunity to win back the trust of Ghanaians; to show to them that he is not he can hold his own even in harsh conditions.
With four – perhaps five – of his first teamers out of the game, this is bound to be Appiah’s biggest test since being reappointed as Ghana coach. In Brazzaville on Tuesday afternoon the rule will be run on every step he takes as the world watches how he finds his way out of this hole. His starting XI, his tactics, his substitutions and his posture on the bench will be scrutinised to the latter as his team battles to revive their faint hopes of making it to the 2018 world cup.
The Black Stars are in contention, but for Appiah it’s more of a surge for redemption and the outcome of the game against Congo could just be what Ghanaians need to finalise their judgement – whether good or bad reviews – on the former Al Khartoum boss.
His problems started with an apathetic 1-1 draw with Congo Brazzaville in Kumasi five days ago, but it could also the same opposition that he makes his name with come Tuesday. A big test awaits, and it’s one that could make or break the ‘Silent Killer’.