Hail Kwasi Appiah and ensemble!

Following reports of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on the BBC late Wednesday afternoon, I was utterly delighted by the kind of drama that characterized some of the matches. Especially games in South, North and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Except Italia 1990, Mexico has been at every World Cup from 1982. This time, they finished fourth in their qualifying group. They could have easily lost the ticket to play Oceania winners, New Zealand in a two-legged intercontinental play-off next month had Panama not conceded two painful goals in stoppage time to lose 2-3 to the United States of America (USA).

The BBC’s report indicated that at the time Panama were leading the USA with six minutes of regulation time left; football fans in Mexico City were cursing their national team coach and players for their poor performance in the series. Mexican fans were almost disappointed that they would miss the global football competition but Panama’s flight crash agonizingly while landing as they lost, handing Mexico the play-off ticket to keep their World Cup dream alive.

Black Stars Coach Kwasi Appiah

In South America, third placed Chile booked an automatic qualification, beating Ecuador 2-1. Ecuador still qualified, finishing fourth. That left the fifth place for Uruguay who will engage Jordan in a play-off. Uruguay ended the qualifiers on the same points with Ecuador but Luiz Suarez’s country settled for the play-off because of an inferior goal difference.

Thus the road to Brazil 2014 has seen very interesting battles. It is predictable that we will see more stimulating clashes next month. To Africa and down here in Ghana, we also witnessed an enthralling game. Maybe, the exchanges on the field did not have produced suspense but it clearly was a historic moment as the Black Stars totally humbled the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium with a 6-1 whitewash. The score line as much as it sent Black Stars fans celebrating literally killed the spirit of Egypt.

The masterminds of 6-1 trouncing of the Egyptians – Kwasi Appiah and his players – have since won the admiration of even their harshest of critics who cannot continue to underestimate the strength of the team coached by a former Black Stars stalwart. On Tuesday evening, the ex-Kotoko player did not only make admirers of the Black Stars proud, he as well reaffirmed Kotoko’s position as an enviable football institution – an institution that breeds and continues to breed football talents and brains that the nation can count on.

Black Stars starting line-up against Egypt

We have looked down on our own coaches. We have often ridiculed them. Some of us have lately been incensed by the reprehensible acts of coaches like David Duncan who sought to undermine the confidence Ghanaians have reposed in Kwasi Appiah. But the gentleman that he is, Kwasi Appiah did not mind Duncan and rather focused on his objective, which was the all-important task of securing Ghana’s presence at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

I used the past tense “was” with the assumption that Ghana has essentially booked her place in Brazil. It is all right to accept that the second leg is yet to be played but no amount of football’s illogicalities can help Egypt to overturn the 6-1 humiliation they suffered in Kumasi. The Black Stars certainly will have to play the return encounter and I am convinced that they win again.

The Black Stars deserve loads of praise for that inspiring result. Such confidence-boosting score lines against opponents considered as mighty instill fear in other teams. The Black Stars have dispelled doubts that they can go rampage and demolish even the strongest of teams in highly competitive matches. They smashed Lesotho 7-0 at the same venue in June 2012. Many thought Lesotho did not have the wherewithal to compete. That is why they lost by that margin. Egypt, who had the wherewithal, came and they have been whitewashed!

It was all joy as the goals kept flowing

Again, I congratulate Kwasi Appiah and his players. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) must also be lauded for their organization, commitment and entirely decent work. They have brought enormous joy to Ghana. We should continue rallying behind the team for greater achievement. Kwasi Appiah, I hail you and your team!