Debibi United head coach Isaac Nii Armah has described Ghana’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Somalia as a must-win assignment, insisting the Black Stars must adopt an attacking approach to revive their faltering campaign.
Armah made the remarks during an interview with Mustapha Hadj (Dean), Head of Sports at Ahotor FM 92.3, on Ahotor Agorokansie on Tuesday night.
The Black Stars head into the two encounters under pressure after suffering defeats in their opening qualifying matches, losing 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire before falling 4-2 to The Gambia.
With Ghana desperate to get its qualification campaign back on track, Armah believes the right tactical approach, coupled with effective player selection, will be key to securing maximum points against Somalia.
“I believe that if we have the right players and use the right system, it will help us win the matches,” he said.
The experienced tactician further emphasised the need for coaches to deploy players in positions that bring out their best qualities, pointing to the tactical philosophy of the late Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, a former Accra Hearts of Oak coach.
According to Armah, Attuquayefio was particularly effective at identifying players’ strengths and assigning them roles that could create more attacking opportunities, even if it meant deploying defenders in advanced positions or midfielders in unfamiliar roles.
Armah also expressed concern about the finishing ability of the current generation of attackers, arguing that some forwards appear too eager to score rather than showing the composure required to convert goal-scoring opportunities.
“The current boys are always in a hurry to score, unlike in the olden days when strikers took their time to convert chances into goals,” he observed.
However, the Debibi United boss was reluctant to make a detailed assessment of the Black Stars’ strengths and weaknesses, explaining that he is not currently part of the national team’s technical setup.
“For now, I am not with the national team, so I cannot tell where the strength of the team lies. Let us wait until after the first game against Somalia, then we can take it from there,” he added.
Armah boasts considerable experience in Ghanaian football, having previously handled Berekum Arsenal, Accra Great Olympics, Bechem United and Techiman Liberty Youth FC. He has also served as an assistant coach of Ghana’s national U-17 team, the Black Starlets.
He recently guided Debibi United to a historic promotion to the Ghana Premier League after leading the club to victory in the Zone One championship playoff against Tamale City FC.
The coach also reaffirmed his willingness to serve the country’s national teams whenever the opportunity presents itself.
“I am ever ready to help the national teams anytime the opportunity presents itself,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Armah has urged Ghanaians to throw their support behind the Black Stars and have confidence in the interim technical team as preparations intensify for the crucial fixtures.
Ghana will host Somalia in the first leg on November 13, 2026, before the two sides meet again on November 16, with both matches scheduled to take place at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi.
The Black Stars will be hoping to secure maximum points from the double-header to breathe life into their AFCON 2027 qualification campaign and restore confidence among their supporters.
Credit: Felix Kwetey