Ghana coach Claude Le Roy says his decision to take off Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in Sunday’s game against Guinea was a tactical one and rejects talk that he was dissatisfied with the player’s performance.
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, before the start of the African Cup of Nations talked up his wish of getting a run out on the opening day of the competition at the Ohene Djan Stadium.
The striker’s wish became a reality when he was named in Ghana’s starting team by Claude L e Roy for Sunday’s Group A game against Guinea.
The Celta Vigo attacker, playing on the left side of attack enjoyed some 75 minutes of action with the score line pegged at 1-1.
Claude Le Roy played his first card of the day, making a tactical change after taking off the CAN debutant for another player, Andre Ayew, himself, another debutant at the competition.
And that was a substitution that the home fans found difficult understand after Quincy’s impressive display.
However, Claude Le Roy says Quincy played well and is backing him to step up his performance.
“When I changed Quincy, it wasn’t because Quincy was not good. The people (fans) would have to see that when you make change and you are a coach, it’s not because it is a sanction against the player. It’s a player who is going out and a player coming in, that’s completely different.
“And most of the time the people say; they changed this player because he is not doing well. Because sometimes tactically, at one moment of the game, it’s necessary to change a little bit and play a bit higher.
“I was very surprised this morning, like it was a sanction that Quincy Owusu was changed after 75 minutes. If you think a player is very bad, you can change after 15 minutes, you can say at this time, that is a big sanction but after 75 minutes? That was his first game, his official game for the national team of Ghana, the Black Stars and he did well but he can do better like all of us.”
Ghana went on to win 2-1 through a last-gasp strike by Sulley Muntari in the 89th minute.
Claude Le Roy also says, Ghana would need to remain calm after the victory in the opening game.
"We've got to be humble now and prepare for our second game against Namibia."
"The first thing I said to the players afterwards was: 'Get ready to forget this game and concentrate on the next one (against Namibia on Thursday).”