Five major talking points from the Ghana-Uganda game

1. Partey stakes a claim for regular starting spot

The Atletico Madrid midfielder was a surprise pick ahead of more experienced duo Afriyie Acquah and Agyemang Badu. But Partey’s performance on the day did just enough to justify why Avram Grant named him in the starting line-up.

Paired with Mubarak Wakaso in midfield, Partey put in a totally dominant display. Breaking up the play of the Cranes and initiating attacks from the back with perfection.

If his performance in Ghana’s opening game is anything to go by, then Thomas Party will be very difficult to ignore when Grant names his starting line-up for his side’s next game against Mali.

2. Cautious approach from both coaches denies fans of tactical showdown

The match between Ghana and Uganda was meant to be a battle between two tactical minds: Avram Grant and Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic. After all the banter and war of words that ensued between both coaches, it was expected that the fixture will be an exciting one.

However, both Grant and Micho did not turn up with the right tactics on the day, leaving most fans disappointed. The Uganda coach deployed defensive tactics to stop Grant’s Black Stars. Ghana rightly took advantage to dominate the opening exchanges, but stopped playing after scoring the opening goal.

Avram Grant’s side returned from the break only to defend and play on the counter attack. The no show by both sides, especially from Ghana left most fans who had expected to watch an entertaining end-to-end match very much frustrated.

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3. Black Stars players still lack match fitness

One notable thing from the Black Stars’ match against Uganda was the lack of match fitness on the side of the Ghanaians. The Black Stars started as the bright side but quickly faded as time wore on, whiles their Ugandan counterparts got stronger and stronger.

The introduction of Jamie Lawrence as fitness coach for Ghana was expected to get the players up to speed and in shape, but it appears nothing has changed. With most of the players lacking first-team football at their various clubs, their lack of sharpness was telling.

Afful Harrison, Mubarak Wakaso and Baba Rahman – until his injury – were all sloppy in possession and that allowed the Cranes to totally dominate the majority of the second-half. A repeat of such performance could prove costly in the next match against a Mali side full of strong and pacy players.

4. Onyango’s masterclass demonstrates Ghana’s goalkeeping problems

Ghana emerged victors of the game, but the gap in quality between the opposing golkeepers was very much evident. Whiles Uganda goalie Dennis Onyango commanded his defense and exhibited agility to clamp down floating ball, his opposite number, Razak Braimah struggled for the totality of the game to deal with simple balls.

Although Braimah was not tested enough by a tame Ugandan attack, his positioning and organization at the back raised serious questions. Onyango is a regular with Mamelodi Sundowns, having won the CAF Champions League with them last season. The Ugandan No. 1 was adjudged the best goalkeeper in Africa for 2016 by CAF, and his performances justify why he scooped that ward. He made two wonderful saves to thwart Christian Atsu’s curling efforts to keep the score at 1-0.

Braimah has been the first choice goalkeeper for Ghana since 2015 but he needs to improve if the Black Stars are to go further in the tournament. The Cordoba man is not a regular at club level and his rustiness was evident on the few occasions that he was tested.

5. Goal scoring still a problem for Ghana

Prior to the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Black Stars had scored just two goals in their last five games. The low scoring form of the team was a worry for Avram Grant who was hopeful that Ghana will improve on that in the tournament.

But if Ghana’s display against Uganda was anything to go by, then the Israeli has a lot more to worry about.

Grant’s side struggled to create chances, and were largely restricted to long wayward shots from outside the box. With leading striker Asamoah Gyan completely marked out of the game, the Black Stars had to rely on the individual brilliance of Andre Ayew and Atsu to open up the Ugandan defense.

Second Striker Jordan Ayew struggled to impose himself on the game, after being shackled off the ball by the big and strong Ugandan defenders. Grant’s side will need to start creating chances, and more importantly score more goals to have a chance of ending Ghana’s 35-year trophy drought.