Does Ghana Really Need Essien?

In many ways the first reaction to this title would be "that's a silly question. Of course Ghana needs Michael Essien". That for sure would be our reaction too. But our question really should read something like this "Without Michael Essien, will the wheels really fall off Ghana's World Cup campaign?"


Without a doubt any team in the world today would need Michael Essien... fully fit. However if there is ever a team team that can live without the powerhouse box-to-box midfielder, who is skilled in the defensive arts, but can rip through defences just as easily, and also launch devastating missiles from long distance, that team is Ghana. World-class midfielders seem to come a dime a dozen in Ghana, and indeed most parts of Africa. There are those who have attributed this phenomenom to the popular kick-about football on the streets and sandy pitches of Africa, played with miniature goalposts that hone the dribbling and passing skills required in midfield play.

Whatever the reason, Ghana has a generation of mint fresh midfielders ready to step in for Essien and grind out results. Perhaps all fall short of the lofty standards of the Chelsea ace, but as a unit woven together by the crafty Serbian Milovan Rajevac, they become a formidable bunch to crack as Burkina Faso, Angola, Nigeria and Egypt found out at the Nations Cup in January.

Bloodied in Angola, the trio of Ghana's U-20 World Cup winning side; Agyemang-Badu, Ibrahim and Andre Ayew are ready to go one step further. So too the young, but lavishly talented Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah who is the latest owner of the famous Number 10 shirt won by Ghana's greats before him like Abedi Pele and Abdul Razak.

There is also Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari, Rosenborg's Anthony Annan 'often hailed as the new Essien', Heart's Laryea Kingston and Portsmouth Kevin Prince-Boateng (if Ghana gets him), who all come in with decent experience.

Agyemang-Badu, who was supreme in Angola in the absence of Essien, has said Essien is indispensable to Ghana: "It will be really sad if he is not able to make it," Badu told Kickoffghana.com. "There is time between now and the World Cup and we have to hope and pray he is available to play his part because he is a world-class player who brings so much to the team."

"The players in the side want him there because they know how well things go when he is in the side. As younger ones he does not just give inspiration, he is a great person to learn from."

Milo too has insisted that he needs his experienced players back, after the heroics of Angola.

We accept that, but if 'Bison' does not recover in time for the World Cup are we going to lose sleep for Milovan Rajevac or the Ghanaian fans? No. Why should we, when waiting in the wings are a collection of little 'Bisons'?

credit: africaplays.