3 reasons why Black Stars B lost to Nigeria

Ghana beat Guinea and Mali in great displays. The performance the side actually put up in their opening game would pass to be pretty much lackluster.

All the same, the tournament seems to have gathered up some steam and finally, fans have looked to have filled the Cape Coast Stadium any given time there is a Black Stars B game at the venue.

We dwell on the reasons why Black Stars B failed to continue the terrific form that saw them beat Guinea and Mali in their first two group games and qualify for the semifinals.

The hunger element

The premise going into this game was the fact that Ghana had already qualified for the semifinals and it was Nigeria looking for the spot.

The Black Stars B team did not approach the game with the hunger and passion like that of their Nigerian counterparts.

READ ALSO: 2017 WAFU Cup Results and scorers after match day 9

Maxwell Konadu did actually state that his side will look to beat Nigeria even though they had booked a place but that was not to be. Konadu’s other number Salisu Yussif had his side perform below par in the first two group games by drawing against Mali and the Guinea in their first two group games with both recording a 0-0 score line. Yusif resorted to lack of preparedness being the bane of his side average performance in the first two games. The side looked to have got rid of the fatigue and were now ready to go to battle.

In the first half the encounter seemed cagey but in the second half it was clear that Black Stars B team were losing gas as the game wore on.

Maxwell Konadu paid little attention to fatigue

In every big encounter it is required that you play the best players available to execute a stellar performance against your opponent. However, in selecting a team the fatigue of the players must be considered. Konadu indeed knew that he had paraded his best talents on to play in 3 games which had a two day interval separating them.

Konadu in the game against Mali maintained the team he fielded against Guinea and in the 4th game with Nigeria made just one change. That was Emmanuel Ampiah coming in for Thomas Abbey at left back.

READ ALSO:Nigeria beat Ghana 0-2

Salisu Yussuf made 6 changes coming into this game and he did indicate prior to the game that a must win game of this nature needed the best legs. Maxwell Konadu had needed to rest some players after evaluating the fitness level of these players.

Maxwell Konadu after the game said "Most of the players got injured in the first half but we did not have the opportunity to replace them. Isaac Twum, for instance, got injured in the warm up and he thought he could play with it. Unfortunately, we had to replace him.”

Quality abounds in the Nigeria team

The Nigerian Football Professional league just ended on the 9th of September, 2017 and coincidentally that day marked the beginning of the WAFU Cup 2017. Salisu Yussif indeed has a case for his side not being prepared for the first three games.

Scorenigeria.com did pick their best XI of the tournament and we juxtapose that to the team that made the squad for the WAFU

Scorenigeria.com XI

Goalkeeper: Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United) Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers), Daniel Itodo (Plateau United), Stephen Eze (FC Ifeanyiubah), Olamilekan Adeleye (FC Ifeanyiubah) Afeez Aremu (Akwa United), Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United),Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United)Tony Okpotu (Lobi Stars), Stephen Odey (MFM)

Subs:Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyiubah), Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors), Bolaji Sakin (Rivers Utd), Stanley Dimgba (Enyimba), Nasiru Sani (Katsina United), Emeka Atuloma (Rivers United), Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars)

Nigeria 18 man squad for the WAFU

Goalkeepers: IkechukwuEzenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)

Defenders: Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Emmanuel Ariwachukwu (Akwa United); Chima Akas (Enyimba FC); Osas Okoro (Rangers International); Adeleye Olamilekan (FC IfeanyiUbah); Daniel James (Plateau United)

Midfielders: Afeez Aremu (Akwa United); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United)

Forwards: Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United); Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars); Peter Eneji (Plateau United); Ubong Friday (Akwa United); Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars)

In comparison you could see that the entire first XI including some of the subs for scorenigeria made the 18 man squad for the WAFU tournament. In a brief check with Stephen Odey and Alhassan Ibrahim and you will notice that they landed deals to FC Zurich and FK Vienna Austria respectively in the summer transfer window.

This is to show that the side is a fair reflection of the best in the Nigeria Professional Premier League. Can the same be said for the Ghana Premier League? Even if the league for the Ghana Premier League has not ended, with 4 games to go it would be interesting to probably state that Emmanuel Ampiah is the best left back on the Ghanaian football terrain.