Looking back at the performance of his players during Ghana’s 2-0 win over Togo on Sunday in the Black Stars’ opening game of the mini tournament, Claude Le Roy says he was pleased with the show.
The win secured the Black Stars a place in the finals of Zenith Bank 4-Nation International Tournament on Wednesday against Benin’s Squirrels.
Baffour Gyan and Kofi Amponsah both made a return to the squad after a two-year absence with the former coming on as a second half substitute to open the scoring while the latter enjoyed 90 minutes of match action.
“They played a very good game, very serious game and a very dedicated game. I talked to Gyan when he came to the field; I told him he will score one goal. I’m sure about that and Kofi Amponsah was good.
“It’s not an easy for one to have a player like Emmanuel Adebayor in front, a lot of players suffer with this fantastic player and we can say in the beginning he (Amponsah) was under pressure because he has to come back to show that his position is normal in this team and we know that Shilla Illiasu was not there, Francis Dickoh was sick and I was quite pleased of his performance,” Le Roy said of the duo.
The Black Stars coach was also pleased with the performance of the entire team.
“I was very pleased at the performance because all the games are so difficult against the Togolese team who want to show something.
“I was surprised at the behaviour of Emmanuel Adebayor, he fought like it was a game for qualification. I respect that. But we decided to play tactically.
“That was what has brought us victory for the players and I think that the players played very well and they approached the game tactically and physically.”
However, Claude Le Roy says the team would need to improve in certain areas as he awaits the return of other player’s in the coming weeks.
“We know we have to improve on some set pieces a little bit more, some players will join us in some few weeks. We missed Asamoah Gyan, Dramani and Shilla Illiasu, they are key players also but those who played in the same positions did a very good job, I think it was a game of good quality.”
With Ghana back on the winning side of the road, Claude Le Roy wants his team to maintain the winning run.
“I talked to the players that we need to win 8 games before the 10th February. We won the first, the second is on Wednesday and after we need to win 6 games at the Africa Cup of Nations.”