Ghana’s Forward Struggles: The Striker Role Continues to Evade the Black Stars

Ghana’s attacking prowess is certainly among the strongest in Africa, showcasing a remarkable selection of skilled players.

The latest squad announced for the World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar includes notable forwards such as Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Jordan Ayew, Jerry Afriyie, Inaki Williams, and Christopher Bonsu Baah.

Out of these six talented forwards, four are active in Europe’s top five leagues, where they’ve had considerable success.

Despite this, a potential issue arises. Apart from Afriyie, the bulk of these players are utilised mainly as wingers.

Semenyo, Williams, and Ayew transitioned from their initial roles as strikers to positions on the flanks, often to better utilise their abilities or to fit into their clubs’ tactical frameworks. This shift has hindered their development as pure strikers, a role demanding sharp reflexes and instinctual decision-making in crowded central areas.

Elite strikers achieve their movements and finishing techniques primarily through muscle memory, honed via consistent practice in that specific role. Since these individuals often play as wingers for their clubs, they miss critical chances to cultivate their skills as strikers during national team duties.

Ghana continues to seek a dependable number nine to uphold the legacy of Asamoah Gyan, the nation’s all-time leading scorer. In 2024, four different players have filled the striker role across 14 matches: Williams, Ayew, Semenyo, and Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer.

For example, Semenyo has spent a mere 2% of his 2,470 minutes on the pitch in the Premier League as a striker, as illustrated in the heat map below from Opta Analyst.

In the recent absence of Evanilson and Enes Unal, coach Andoni Iraola chose to deploy another Dango Ouattara in the striker role, underscoring the Ghanaian’s effective adjustment to playing wide.

This season, Williams has transitioned into a more creative role and has recorded a career-high eight assists. Consequently, his goal output has dipped, with only five league goals to his name after 27 appearances.

Ernesto Valverde has primarily utilised the Ghanaian on the wings, with 92% of his 2,227 minutes in LaLiga being spent on the right side.

Of the 31 chances created by Williams this season, 26 have been generated from the right flank, as he has had to adapt his playing style to fit a wider role.

Ayew, while being one of Ghana’s most consistent performers, has seen limited opportunities to play as a centre-forward since his move to Leicester City.

To date, he has only started three matches as a striker, spending the majority of his time on the wings. Given Leicester’s defensive approach, the 33-year-old often finds himself supporting his full-backs.

This situation has resulted in a stark disparity between his attacking and defensive statistics, as seen in the donut chart below. His ranking is below the 20th percentile for shots and touches within the opposition’s box.

A scarcity of attempts will only render a forward out of form, and with insufficient playtime, he risks losing sharpness, impacting his ability to spearhead Ghana’s attack.

The absence of a strong presence in the box among Ghana’s forwards presents an opportunity for Afriyie, although he is still maturing as a player.

With two goals in three appearances for CD Lugo and a goal on his debut for the Black Stars, he demonstrates promise through his physical abilities and finishing knack.

However, facilitating his integration into the national squad is essential to minimise pressure and ensure a smooth transition.

In light of Ghana’s striking predicament, coach Otto Addo may need to implement innovative tactics or heavily depend on Afriyie to enhance fluidity in attack.

This issue takes on added urgency following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, largely attributed to a lack of scoring.

Addressing this problem is crucial if Ghana aspires to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup.

The Black Star Watch is a captivating weekly column penned by Owuraku Ampofo, a seasoned sports journalist with over five years of experience covering Ghanaian players. This column seeks to explore prevailing trends, tackle pressing issues, and highlight topical matters related to Ghanaian footballers.