{"id":83898,"date":"2015-01-19T19:52:08","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T19:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=83898"},"modified":"2015-01-19T22:11:02","modified_gmt":"2015-01-19T22:11:02","slug":"ghana-1-2-senegal-black-stars-players-rated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/01\/ghana-1-2-senegal-black-stars-players-rated\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghana 1 – 2 Senegal: How the Black Stars players rated"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ghana were beaten in their opening game at the 2015 African Cup of Nations by Senegal, who came back from a goal down to earn a late win<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ghana took the lead though an Andre Ayew penalty in the first half but were pegged back 13 minutes into the second half by a Mame Biram Diuof goal.<\/p>\n

A Moussa Sow strike, with virtually the last kick of the game gave the Senegalese a very late but very much deserved first win over Ghana in four attempts at the AFCON.<\/p>\n

Here,\u00a0Citi Sports<\/strong> takes a look at how the Black Stars players fared in the game.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Razak Braimah (Goalkeeper) – 6<\/strong><\/p>\n

The AFCON debutant was one of Ghana’s standout performers in in the game. He made two very good saves in the first half including one from an acrobatic strike from Mame Biram Diouf. His handling from set-pieces and crosses into the box was questionable at times,b<\/span>ut he was helpless for the first goal after\u00a0came back off the post and couldn’t have done much to prevent the clinical winner from Moussa Sow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel Martey (Center-back<\/strong>) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another AFCON debutant who did not do badly in the game but was part of a defence that struggled badly \u00a0in the second half against the physical Senegalese forwards. Offered some threat at at corners but would be disappointed at conceding so late in the game.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Awal Mohammed (Center-back) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was clear the defence was not too comfortable with the formation and the Senegalese noticed and took advantage in the second half.\u00a0Standing in for the unwell John Boye, Awal Mohammed would have wished to have come away with a win to stake a claim for the spot in the centre of defence when John Boye returns. However, a shaky performance in the second half means Boye will probably slot back in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jonathan Mensah (Center-back<\/strong>) -4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being the most experienced of the back three, there was a lot of pressure on Mensah to organise the defence against a very potent Senegal attack. In the first half, a few weaknesses, especially in dealing with crosses were exposed. Mensah seemed nervous at times in the second half, particularly after Senegal got the equaliser and should have been punished when he gave the ball away in a dangerous position. He will probably keep his place in the team for the Algeria game but he must improve.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Harrison Afful (Wing-Back) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Playing in a more advanced wing-back role was supposed to be perfect for this most-attacking of full backs. However, he hardly got forward to deliver crosses into the box, even in the first half when Ghana were slightly on top. Disappeared almost completely as an attacking threat when Ghana dropped deeper in the second period.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Baba Rahman (Baba Rahman) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

An unusally quiet game from the Augsburg player who has taken the Bundesliga by storm. He was virtually untroubled during the game but offered very little going forward. One cross in the first half was overhit and like Afful, faded as an attacking threat after Senegal’s equaliser.<\/p>\n

Rabiu Mohammed (Midfielder) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

An assured first half display was followed by a less impressive\u00a0\u00a0second-half \u00a0in which he was overrun in midfield by the Senegalese. He was taken off late in the game and replaced by Afriyie-Acquah after picking up a yellow card.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Emmanuel Agyeman Badu (Midfielder) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was not Agyeman Badu’s best game and he will be looking to forget about it quickly. None of the block-busting\u00a0strikes we are used to seeing from him. It was still his pass that Chistrian Atsu run on to to win the penalty in the first half but it looked overhit and Atsu did well to reach it. However, he will be expected to make the team against Algeria.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Andre Ayew (Midfielder) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

The scorer of Ghana’s only goal in the game, Andre Ayew will be hoping for better days than this. He stated in the post match conference that they were disappointed with the result but would bounce back against Algeria. He’ll be hoping that he bounces back as well after a second half in which he picked up a yellow card and was hauled off, replaced by David Accam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Christin Atsu (Midfielder) – 6<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atsu had a brilliant \u00a0first-half in which he linked up well with Jordan Ayew. He did extremely well to reach Agyeman Badu’s slightly overhit through pass, forcing the Senegalse goalkeeper into making the challenge for the penalty. He faded in the second half a bit and was replaced by Mubarak Wakaso.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jordan Ayew (Striker) – 7<\/strong><\/p>\n

The FC Lorient forward has blown hot and cold in his international career but this performance will remind everybody of how good this hugely talented player is. The Senegalese defence couldn’t live with him in the first half and he will probably feel hard done by not\u00a0to be on the winning side, despite a quieter second half, where he still managed the Stars’ most clear-cut opportunity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Avram Grant (Coach) – 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Implemented the hugely famous 3-at the back tactic and would have been hailed as a genius had the Stars held on to their lead, but the loss will put some of his decisions under the spotlight. Probably justified in his selection of Christian Atsu ahead of in-form Solomon Asante. But his decision to bring on Afriyie-Acquah with the Stars already lacking an attacking threat in the second half\u00a0will get tongues wagging.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Substitutes (No Rating):<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mubarak Wakaso (Midfielder): <\/strong>Came on for Christian Atsu in the 65th minute. Some fine touches in the middle of the pitch but was forced to stay deep as Senegal pressed.<\/p>\n

Afriyie Acquah (Midfielder):<\/strong>\u00a0Came on for Rabiu\u00a0in the 84th minute. Did not\u00a0provide enough protection for a\u00a0faltering\u00a0defence as they conceded the winner.<\/p>\n

David Accam (Midfielder): <\/strong>On for Andre Ayew in the 87th minute. Showed lovely feet and a clean pair of heels when he run at the Senegalese defence but not enough time to make a telling impact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By: Edwin Kwakofi\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nFollow @EdKwakofi<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ghana were beaten in their opening game at the 2015 African Cup of Nations by Senegal, who came back from a goal down to earn a late win. Ghana took the lead though an Andre Ayew penalty in the first half but were pegged back 13 minutes into the second half by a Mame Biram […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[29,3],"yoast_head":"\nGhana 1 - 2 Senegal: How the Black Stars players rated - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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