Partey (centre) Ghana’s midfield loom

There has been an assortment of commentaries regarding Ghana’s upcoming involvement in the 2022 Qatar World Cup tournament, raging on the heels of the Black Stars’ recent two friendlies during the international break.

Talks of an ominous disaster in Qatar appears to have dominated the discussion, sadly, since the double friendlies – with a decent number of fans insisting that the Black Stars are not ready to compete for honours at the Mundial.

That interesting sense of pessimism was drawn from what they termed an uninspiring performance by the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists. Well, can you begrudge them?

Do not forget Ghana has more than 30 million coaches, all of whom have their own football philosophy, strategy and sophistry.

For the records, Ghana slumped 3-0 to Brazil in the opening friendly played in France on September 23. The Stars made amends in a solitary 1-0 win over lowly-placed Nicaragua. Teenager Issahaku Fatawu netted 10 minutes before halftime in Lorca, in south-eastern Spain, with a rasping left-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

Ghana could have won the Nicaragua game by at least 5-0 had the team not been profligate in front of the post. That slim scoreline may have irked Ghanaians who thought the Stars could not be ready for such an engaging campaign that would demand ruthlessness in the goal area.

In the glum of that low conversation, there seems to be some glowing light. That glimmer is Thomas Partey.

Though he was penciled to show the stuff he got against Brazil, the Arsenal swashbuckling midfielder did not even take part in the two friendlies, ostensibly due to injuries. Was he really injured? The Ghana medical team says his absence from the Stars’ game was precautionary. Well, let us give them the benefit of the doubt!

Rather interestingly, he was full-loaded for Arsenal’s North London crack derby against Tottenham Hotspur less than a week later. Though his participation in last week’s Premiership tie will naturally raise eyebrows after missing the Ghana friendlies to stage a superb performance in their 3-1 win, Ghanaians would still be thrilled by his sterling show in London.

The Stars’ burly centre-man stringed a sweet array of gorgeous telepathic passes that drew lots of applause from the fastidious Arsenal home crowd, capping it with a goal of majestic quality.

Partey’s man-of-the-match performance may have been drawn from a 94.6 per cent passing accuracy; 65 touches, four great passes, 55 passes in total, two shots, and one strike on target.

And that goal – a right-footed corker that exploded into the top corner, was something special. Prayer of Ghanaians is that the Arsenal man maintain or even improve on his form whilst he endeavours to steer himself out of injuries.

It is the belief of many followers of Ghana football that had Partey featured in the two friendlies, a different story could have been told.

So far, Real Mayorca’s Iddrisu Baba has not demonstrated enough brain and brawn during Partey’s absence and could hardly be relied upon to boss the midfield. Truth is that, he needs to improve remarkably ahead of the campaign or face a shock exit from the final squad.

The Stars will take on Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H at the World Cup finals, but before have one more friendly against Switzerland in Abu Dhabi on November 17; barely a week before their opening game against Portugal in Doha.

The degree to which they perform in this last friendly could determine how far they can go in their fourth finals in Qatar. Let us pray for them. 

PlainTalk With John Vigah