Afriyie Barnieh signed for Al Ahly, where will Hearts of Oak attacker fit in Al Ahly system
Futball Surgery signs Afriyie Barnieh for Al Ahly and we assess where the Hearts of Oak forward will best fit in the Reds’ system.
With the African transfer window almost a week from opening, clubs are preparing to do the necessary business. Al Ahly leads the Egyptian Premier League in a bid to break their 2-year league drought curse that has benefited Zamalek in return and to cement their lead means they need reinforcements at attacking lines- one of the areas they will be strengthening to boost their African Champions League as well.
The same approach applies to Hearts of Oak who have been linked with a move for a couple of targets but they are in contention to lose their biggest asset next month after Egyptian side Al Ahly reportedly opening negotiations to sign Afriyie Barnieh in January.
The 21-year old has had an enviable transition in career over the last three years leading the lines for Hearts to win the Ghana Premier League and two FA Cup titles while being integral member of the Black Satellite squad that won the 2021 African Youth Championship in Mauritania and leading Ghana to qualify for the 2023 CHAN tournament in Algeria.
Within this Barnieh’s achievements, Esperance de Tunis were front runners for the Ghanaian International but his call-up to the Black Stars for Qatar 2022 World Cup finals has seen Egyptian side Al Ahly entered the race, and now clear favorites for the player’s signature after contacting Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Oak over a move in the January transfer window.
Assuming Afriyie Barnieh join the African giants, he will add up to Al Ahly’s attacking lines of Mohamed Sherif, Bruno Savio, Mohamed Magdy, El Shahat, Mohamed Abdul Kader, Karim Fouad and Percy Tau with each capable of playing in the three men up front or in the three behind the leading man or the leading attacker with exception of Kader and Fouad.
Barnieh is expected to start games for the Egyptian side once his deal is completed and the Ghanaian can play as a center forward and at any of the attacking wide areas. But Barnieh’s efficiency comes operating from the right side of attack and at times he is deadly playing just behind the leading striker.
Al Ahly have struggled to find the perfect center forward since the departure of Angolan International Flavio Armando. In attempt to replace Flavio Armando, Al Ahly have brought in Junior Ajayi, Aliou Badji from non North country and it may or not Barnieh’s project when he joins the Caf Champions League record holders.
Al Ahly were temporary relieved of the burden of the inability to sign the perfect center forward after announcing deal for Mohamed Sherif from Wadi Degla in 2018. The Egyptian International began scoring from that position back then but started struggling in later part of his stay. He has been dropped to the bench with Percy Tau and Bruno Savior recently deployed in the center forward role.
Al Ahly’s attempt to sign Barnieh and place the Ghanaian at the center forward position will perhaps be a big mistake. The Reds must be smart to learn that as the Hearts forward is not good at stealing spaces up front- a great hallmark of a deadly center forward.
However, boss Marcel Koller can adopt the right integration mechanisms for the flourish of Barnieh as a center forward with the Ghanaian possessing running behind the defenders quality.
His parent club Hearts of Oak have ruled out playing Barnieh as the center forward system, deploying the 21-year old at either the right side, left side of attack or behind the striker depending on the nature of the game.
In Hearts’ big games, Afriyie Barnieh has regularly played behind Isaac Mensah and Kwadwo Obeng Junior. And the important decisive moment has frequently been determined by Barnieh either grabbing an assist or the match winner.
With Al Ahly likely to reject Barnieh for the center forward role factoring in Tau’s performance at the position, the Ghanaian can play behind the South African International making a formidable attack when the face rivals Zamalek, Esperance de Tunis, Wydad Casablanca, Pyramids and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Egyptian Premier League or the Caf Champions League. But Savio is up in that position meaning Barnieh can be used as backup for any the South African and Brazilian.
Barnieh can also play at the left side of attack but Mohammed Abdul Kader’s exploits make the Egyptian undroppable at the role even if Barnieh comes into the frame. Kader gives Al Ahly the right balance and technically gifted off any other Ahly player at the left side of attack.
Karim Fouad occupies the right side of attack and would be competing with Afriyie Barnieh when the Ghanaian completes his switch to the Egyptian Premier League in January. Fouad has been one of the consistent players for Al Ahly this season but his starting position will be threatened when Barnieh joins the Cairo based side.
For most part his playing career in Ghana for Hearts of Oak or national team, Barnieh has played at the right side of attack.
With Marcel Koller unlikely to drop Mohamed Abdul Kader at the left side, Barnieh’s best chances after assessment could be at behind the striker or right side of attack but he needs to work hard against benching Ahly’s most influential stars this season so far Bruno Savior and Karim Fouad.
Koller may have a ideal of utilizing Afriyie Barnieh at the center forward.
Barnieh’s signing will be one of the fruitful business Al Ahly will do over the years, and they are said to open negotiations with the player as well. Barnieh’s contract at Hearts of Oak ends ending of this month and becomes free to leave for any destination of his choice.
Al Ahly could have capitalized on the situation while Esperance de Tunis are in the pipeline for Barnieh but Reds have opened talks that will see the Ghana Premier League former champions earn around $800, 000 for a deal they could gain nothing in weeks time.
Although this is not the asking price of Hearts, they are said to have quoted Barnieh’s price around $700,000-1.8million.
The purchasing ability is now up to the Cairo giants, to agree a fee for the transfer of Afriyie Barnieh to the Cairo International Stadium in January.
