Former Black Stars right-back John Painstil impressed with Nigeria display against Ghana
Former Ghana right-back John Painstil says Nigeria deserve credit for their performance against the Black Stars in the first leg of the World Cup playoff in Kumasi.
Nigeria managed to force a draw against Ghana at a full capacity Baba Yara Sports Stadium and will have the home advantage against the Black Stars in the second leg.
Painstil who was part of the analyst for the game on Super Sports TV was impressed with what he saw from the visitors.
“Nigeria have done well in terms of coping with the pressure and they really did play, their calmness was very good,” Paintsil said on Super Sports.
“When you play away especially against Ghana you are expected to play long balls but when the Eagles get the ball they always try to build from the back.
“They took the game to Ghana and I must say credit to the Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, the team will return to Accra on Saturday for a little shake up at the Accra Sports stadium before leaving for Abuja on Sunday. Ghana will travel via a chattered flight.
The Black Stars will then train at the Mashood Abiola stadium on Monday, the venue for the crucial second leg.
In the first leg at the Baba Yara sports stadium, coach Otto Addo handed debuts to Dennis Odoi and Felix Afena-Gyan, both of whom impressed.
Ghana had chances to take the lead, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Mohammed Kudus coming close at either side of the half.
Afena-Gyan could have give Ghana the lead deep in second half after a corner kink from Kudus evaded everyone.
Meanwhile, Nigeria gave Ghana a scare when the referee awarded a penalty only for the decision to be reversed by VAR.
The second leg will be played on Tuesday night at the Mashood Abiola stadium.
John Painstil downplayed Ghana AFCON chances in Cameroon
Former Ghana defender John Painstil is not confident about the Black Stars chances of winning the Africa Cup of Nations this year.
Painstil, who represented Ghana at four Afcons, says the 28-man squad assembled by Milovan Rajevac does not have enough experience to end Ghana’s 40-year wait for the trophy in Cameroon.
“When he came in 2010, we were masters of our own and we were only taking instructions. But now that generation is not there. When you look at the team now, we only have Jonathan Mensah and Dede Ayew, which is not enough for any coach,” the former defender said.
“Milo [Rajevac] came because he loves Ghanaians and he knows the players will deliver for him. In some cases, no coach would have come and taken the job in such a crucial moment because it is Ghana we are talking about, a football-loving country.
“I said it was a crucial and wrong time because of the players he was coming to meet – players who had never been together, who had never played so many matches as a team, thinking that they had quality as a team but only quality as individuals, it was going to be difficult for him.
“But in all, if you look at what he has done in for the short period, it tells you that he is a great coach.”
Ghana is set to play Algeria in a friendly match on Wednesday before jetting off to Cameroon for the tournament which kicks off on January 9.
They have been drawn in Group C and will play Morocco, Gabon and debutants Comoros.
