Sports analysts often say football does repeat itself. No wonder that by irony of fate the Ghana Black Stars squad for Angola 2010 have a close resemblance to the 1965 line-up that successfully defended the cup in Tunisia.

As if by design, established names like skipper Stephen Appiah, John Paintsil, John Mensah and Laryea Kingston who played a key role in CAN 2008, will be absent in Angola to be replaced by youngsters just as skipper Aggrey Fynn, Wilberforce Mfum, Edward Acquah Mohammed Salisu, Franklin Crentsil, Kwame Adarkwa and the others who were the pillars of the 1963 triumph missed the 1965 tournament and their places taken over by some youngsters.

Perhaps the slight difference is that in 1965, Sports Director Ohene Djan took a bold decision to retire those ageing players as compared to the current situation where the missing veterans are on the injury list. Many keen observers believe the injuries to some of the players notably, John Mensah, Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston could be a blessing in disguise because they are definitely getting past their prime but officialdom lacked the courage to effect changes.

In 1965, youngsters like Frank Odoi, John Naawu, Agyeman Gyau, Osei Kofi, Jones Attuquayefio, Oman Mensah and Willie Evans had support from experienced performers like Addo Odametey, Ben Acheampong, Kofi Pare and Dodoo Ankrah and played well to win the Cup.

Analysts are expecting the same chemistry involving teenagers like Andre Ayew, Opoku Agyemang, Dominic Adiyiah, Lee Addy , Daniel Adjei ,Ransford Osei and veterans like Michael  Essien, Eric Addo, Richard Kingston, Asamoah Gyan, Matthew Amoah and Haminu Draman, to work out for the Black Stars of 2010 to deliver the goods.

Ghana has quite a remarkable record in African Cup history and always counted among the favourites. The records include the first to win the cup away from home, the first to win the original cup for keeps and the first to become four times champions. These are almost worn out records because since the last triumph in 1982, the best Ghana has achieved is losing finalist in 1992. Now Egypt and Cameroun have outpaced Ghana.  

Ghana the first to break “the host and win” tradition in 1965, tried to revive the tradition as 2008 hosts, but ended up winning the bronze with Egypt topping the charts followed by Cameroun.

After that brilliant debut in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, expectations were so high for the Black Stars to shine but they were disappointing. They however atoned for that lethargic show in the African Cup with a superb performance in the 2010 World Cup qualifying series that saw them booking their tickets to South Africa even with two more matches to clear.

Understandably, there was not much motivation to win the last two matches against Benin and Mali. But fans were not happy when Ghana lost 1-0 to Benin in Cotonou and drew 2-2 with Mali in Kumasi. After these two matches came calls for drastic changes in the team. Indeed, some radicals wanted the entire Under 20 World Cup winning team to replace the Black Stars.

Well, by irony of fate Coach Rajevac has been compelled to assemble in Angola as many as eight of those youngsters who beat Brazil with ten men to win the junior world cup in Egypt last October.

Already the youngsters have started to shine in some trial matches in preparation for the Angola show. In an 8-0 demolition of a South African third division side Chimugwe FC, newcomers Ransford Osei, Dominic Adiyiah, Opoku Agyeman and Andre Ayew were all on target which should be good news for Ghana.  

Coach Rajevac has expressed satisfaction with the blend of the youth and the veterans. His target is to get a fifth Africa Cup for Ghana and use that as stepping stone to make it big in South Africa in June.

All is set for Ghana to meet neighbours Togo in the first match on Sunday before tackling the other group opponents, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, an all ECOWAS affair if you like.

You can hardly get such exciting group fixtures in the Cup of Nations elimination series.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports

From My Archives

January 14th 1996: Ghana beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 in their first match of the African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Anthony Yeboah and Abedi Pele scored for Ghana.