While some fans and football commentators have pointed to the poor and bumpy pitch at Baba Yara Stadium as the main reason for Ghana’s 1-0 defeat to Angola, the match statistics tell a more complex story.
Though the pitch conditions may have affected play, the data from Sofascore suggests that Ghana’s inability to convert chances and capitalize on their dominance was a larger factor in the loss.
Key Match Statistics:
- Ball possession: Ghana dominated the match with 57% possession compared to Angola’s 43%. Despite the challenging surface, Ghana controlled the game for extended periods, showing that they were able to manage the pitch conditions better than some suggest.
- Total shots: Ghana attempted 18 shots, significantly more than Angola's 11, but struggled to convert these opportunities into goals. The pitch didn’t stop Ghana from creating chances; it was their finishing that let them down.
- Goalkeeper saves: Angola's goalkeeper made 5 crucial saves, highlighting Ghana’s inability to find the back of the net, even when they found space to shoot. This points to poor execution rather than simply blaming the surface.
- Set pieces: Ghana earned 7 corner kicks, but a lack of precision in the final third, rather than the pitch, kept them from taking advantage of these opportunities.
- Passes: Ghana completed 397 passes, well above Angola’s 294, with 324 of those being accurate. This shows that despite the pitch, Ghana was able to string together passes and retain possession.
In-depth Analysis:
Ghana’s control in the midfield and higher number of shots point to a performance where the team had plenty of the ball but lacked a clinical edge in front of goal. The accuracy of passes (324 completed out of 397) shows that Ghana was still able to maintain fluidity in their play. The statistic that truly stands out is the big chances – both teams created one each, but Angola took theirs in stoppage time, while Ghana failed to capitalize on their opportunity earlier in the game.
Though the poor surface at the Baba Yara Stadium may have impacted both teams, Ghana still managed more touches in the penalty area (26) compared to Angola's 17. The problem wasn’t the pitch; it was the team's inability to make those touches count in crucial moments.
Key Moments:
- Angola’s Milson scored in the 90+3 minute, capitalizing on Ghana’s defensive lapse, which had little to do with the condition of the pitch.
- Ghana’s lone big chance was missed, reflecting a lack of sharpness and composure in the final third.
Conclusion:
While the pitch at Baba Yara Stadium was far from perfect, the statistics show that Ghana had ample opportunity to control and win the game. Blaming the defeat solely on the playing surface overlooks the team's failure to convert their dominance into goals. With better decision-making and finishing, the outcome could have been different, regardless of the field conditions.