The night Ghana needs just 60% of Partey’s quality

“If Partey rises up even 60% with his clever positioning and passes in between the lines and in behind, we will win in Nigeria,” a source close to the them said.

That’s how much a of responsibility is on the shoulders of Partey. The man many looked up to the lead a party at Baba Yara three days ago, was muffled.

He gave away possession that were unpartey. His creativity, vision, and dominance in the midfield areas were missing in a contest that goes beyond football as Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa put it, ‘it is not just about football.’

“It’s about politics, it’s about jollof, Nigeria-Ghana, about music, acting, everything, and football has brought us again together to show who’s the king.

Partey was supposed to be the king. His marauding performances at Arsenal has seen him earn appraisals from all quarters in the English media, but on the night he was missing.

Though Otto Addo, interim coach of the Black Stars appreciated the passion, though many Ghanaians loved the passion, this contest which goes beyond, is one that that would have millions of Ghanaians forget, at least momentarily, their worries, hikes in fuel prices and depreciation of the Ghana Cedi, which many say has contributed to increase in every facet of the Ghanaian standard of living.

Partey needs to step up, Kudus needs to step up, Jordan, the most experienced of this team in Abuja must put behind the boos at Baba Yara and answer his critics.

For Otto Addo, criticising Jordan means, he is the one criticised. ‘Jordan did not select himself,’ he said.

Indeed Jordan does not select himself for matches or decide how many he should play, and the Borussia Dortmund assistant should be censured for his choices, but the payers have a responsibility towards over 30 million expectant Ghanaians, that’s why Jordan must be step up to the plate as he did during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

The Super Eagles want to fly.

“Our expectations as Nigeria are high, that is something I know all too well,” he says.

“I will urge all football lovers, fans, supporters clubs to come out in their numbers to support the Super Eagles on Tuesday.

“At the end of the day, everyone will be happy. We should all keep the support high, and we pray that at the end of the day everybody will be happy,” he said.

He has injury concerns, but he is not too worried.

“Everyone is good to go. As for Innocent Bonke and Samuel Chukwueze, we will know later, but as for the rest, all are in prime condition.

“The boys are all ready, knowing what is at stake and knowing that it is all or nothing for us at this stage. Our game will count on Tuesday, and we will make Nigerians proud,” he states.

What is at stake a ticket to Qatar, a ticket Ghana wants. A ticket Thomas Partey and his generation want.

In 2018, he described it as ‘painful’ watching the World Cul from home. It is the biggest stage every footballer wants to participate in. A stage he missed in 2018, a stage he and his colleagues want to be part of, as Gideon Mensah, left-back of the team said on Friday night.

“No one in this team is thinking about not qualifying for the World Cup. We are here to qualify and we will do it on Tuesday.”

Tuesday night presents two contrasting tales. One that would either have Otto Addo carried aloft, or Eguavon further cement his place in the pantheon of Nigeria football.

“Ghana are not a pushover, they have a lot of talent.” It is that talent Ghanaians need on Tuesday night. It is that talent, Otto must select to make history.

Super Eagles winger Moses Simos warned that ‘Ghana will take it’, what ever the taking it means, Ghana will want to ‘take it’ which is the ticket to the Mundial. That will be a success.

“To be honest I don’t think we are better than Nigeria and I don’t think they are better than us, it was an equal game, I think everybody saw and it will be very, very equal tomorrow [Tuesday],” Otto says.

“I can’t say that they are favourites, we are favourites but what I can say is if we shoot one goal it hurts more than if they shoot.”

Partey must shoot, Kudus must shoot. Take the responsibility and give only 60% of your abilities.

Never mind Otto, if Nigeria shoots first, it will be more painful in every facet of this never to be forgotten rivalry.

What ever happens on Tuesday night, history will be written: one that reads Thomas Partey leads Ghana’s party in Qatar or the another with the inscription ‘there is no party for Thomas Partey’s Black Stars as Ghana miss out on second successive World Cup ticket.’

Source: Ghana News