Coach Vincent Abio, popularly known as Coach Abiwu, a football analyst, experienced coach, technical team member and coach of Olympics, has expressed mixed feelings about the Black Stars’ performance in their victory over Panama.
Speaking to Citizen Kofi Owusu on Ahotor FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem programme in Accra after the match, Coach Abiwu said Ghana’s victory was achieved largely through individual brilliance rather than an impressive collective team display.
According to him, Panama were the better side for much of the game and demonstrated superior tactical discipline, but failed to capitalize on the numerous scoring opportunities they created.
“Panama was far ahead of the Black Stars in terms of their overall play, but football is about taking your chances and securing the points. Ghana took their opportunities when they came and that made the difference,” he stated.
Coach Abiwu noted that, from a technical standpoint, the match was difficult to watch because the Black Stars struggled to impose themselves on the game.
“The Black Stars did not play well and that was why many people found it difficult to enjoy the game. Panama moved the ball better, looked tactically stronger and controlled large portions of the match, but they were wasteful in front of goal,” he explained.
He further stated that the performance fell short of the standards Ghanaians have come to expect from the national team, although he acknowledged the players’ clinical finishing when opportunities arose.
The football analyst also described Panama as the weakest side in Ghana’s group and cautioned that the Black Stars would face tougher challenges if they failed to improve their overall performance.
Touching on the tactical decisions of head coach Carlos Queiroz, Coach Abiwu observed that the coach’s approach reflects the experience he has gained while managing some of the world’s top national teams.
“Coach Carlos is naturally defensive in his style of play. Looking at his coaching history with some of the top football nations, you can clearly see that he places great emphasis on organization and defensive stability,” he said.
Reacting to calls from some supporters for certain players to be substituted during the match, Coach Abiwu defended the coach’s decisions, explaining that players are often assigned specific tactical responsibilities that may not be obvious to spectators.
“Many people were calling for some players to be changed, but as a coach you understand that every player on the pitch has a role. If a player is carrying out a specific tactical instruction, it is not always easy to take him off immediately,” he noted.
However, he praised the team’s improvement after a tactical switch to a 4-4-2 formation, saying the adjustment brought greater balance and enabled the Black Stars to perform better in the latter stages of the game.
Despite the victory, Coach Abiwu maintained that the overall performance did not meet his expectations.
“As a coach, you must know the tactical approach required for every game. We won, but the Black Stars did not play to my satisfaction. There is a lot of room for improvement,” he stressed.
He expressed optimism that the team would raise its level in subsequent matches and urged both the players and technical team to build on the victory while addressing the weaknesses exposed by Panama.
Coach Abiwu concluded by encouraging Ghanaian supporters to celebrate the result while continuing to demand improved performances as the Black Stars pursue success in the competition.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah