Ghana bound to reach 2021 Afcon final after Milovan Rajevac sees similarities between 2010 squad and current call-up
Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac believes his current team is as good as the 2010 Black Stars squad that reached the final of the 2010 AFCON and the quarter final of the World Cup.
Ghana lost that final game to record holders Egypt after second half substitute Mohamed Nagy Gedo struck in stoppage time. With Milo highlighting similarities between 2010 and 2021, could it mean that Ghana would burst into another final like what they did 11 years ago.
The Serbian trainer returned for a second stint with the West African giants, and ahead of the Nations Cup next month, he released a 30-man squad for the tourney.
Although, Ghanaians are not confident in the team after struggles to reach the play-offs of the World Cup qualifiers, Milovan Rajevac remains optimistic.
“2010 was great, we had a beautiful recollection of that event. Many didn’t believe in our team and that time we were very close to winning that cup, we couldn’t count on some players and our group was great and a group of players, and we were fighting throughout the competition and we were very close at that time.
“I still believe that we were a better team in that final, were a little bit unlucky at the end,” he said at the announcement of his team.
“Now the situation is almost the same of course if you looking at FIFA ranking we are not in the right position than before but that doesn’t mean anything necessarily since many teams want to win this cup and many have written to think they can win this cup and there’s no difference for us. We know how much this is important and how if we do this the whole country will be happy.
“We can only promise that were are going to do our best to go match by match because for us every next match is the most important in a career in life so of au is of the challenge and we are going to do our best, how to achieve this goal and make everybody happy.”
Mohamed Nagy retires in 2021
The 37-year-old came off the bench to score the only goal that secured the Afcon title for Pharaohs against Ghana in Angola 11 years ago
Former Egypt and Al Ahly striker Mohamed Nagy Gedo has confirmed his retirement from football after he was released by Egyptian Premier League club El-Gouna in October 2020.
Gedo was most notable for his super-substitute role in Egypt’s victorious campaign at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
During the continental showpiece, the former Hull City striker came off the bench on six occasions and scored five goals which made him the tournament’s top scorer as the Pharaohs lifted their seventh Afcon title.
He sealed Egypt’s 3-1 win over Nigeria after coming on as a substitute in their opening game and he scored the match-winning goal that ensured a 1-0 triumph over Ghana in the final match after he was introduced as a 70th-minute substitute.
“I feel that this is the right time to retire. Thank God I had a wonderful career that was much bigger than I could have imagined,” Gedo tweeted.
“I am very grateful for every moment. I am fortunate to have achieved all my dreams, but this would not have happened without your encouragement. I am now ready for the new journey in my life. Thank you to all of you.”
Gedo started his career at Ala’ab Damanhour in 2002 before securing a move to Al-Ittihad in 2005 where he spent five years.
Following his remarkable performances at Afcon 2010, the 36-year-old was signed by Egyptian Premier League giants Al Ahly where he won two Caf Champions League titles, two league titles and two Caf Super Cups, amongst others.
During his stint in Cairo, Gedo was loaned to Hull City for his first European adventure and he helped the Tigers secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2012-13 campaign. The Damanhur-born star later made two appearances in the English top-flight.
He also had stints at El-Entag El-Harby, the Arab Contractors before finally playing for El Gouna between 2018 and October 2020.
