3Sports journalist Yaw Ofosu Larbi has made a compelling case for Ghana captain Andre Ayew, asserting that the midfielder’s absence in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal against Uruguay cost Ghana a spot in the semifinals.
His assertion was made in the first episode of 3xtra’s Debate Arena: Sports edition
We're going to ruffle some feathers during this debate 🫢
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) December 8, 2023
On this episode of Debate Arena: Sports Edition, @theyawofosu and @_owurakuampofo shared their perspectives.
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Yaw Ofosu, widely known as Kawawa was joined by fellow journalist Owuraku Ampofo, who engaged in a spirited debate over whether Andre’s younger brother, Jordan Ayew, surpassed him in skill.
He passionately argued that while Jordan possesses undeniable talent, Andre’s contributions were unparalleled, emphasising the pivotal role he played during the 2008 to 2010 period.
During the debate, Kawawa expressed a bold opinion, stating, “There is one thing I keep saying that if Andre had played that Uruguay game, we [Ghana] would have gone to the semifinals of the World Cup. Gyan was scoring the goals, but he [Andre] was the man behind.”
He highlighted Andre Ayew’s special qualities, suggesting that his absence in the crucial Uruguay match was a missed opportunity for Ghana. He reminisced about the 2010 World Cup, emphasising that Andre Ayew’s influence went beyond goal-scoring, attributing him as the driving force behind Asamoah Gyan’s success on the field.
Owuraku Ampofo, while acknowledging Jordan Ayew’s talent, firmly sided with Larbi, stating that there was nothing Jordan did better than his elder brother Andre Ayew.
It’s important to note that Andre Ayew was unavailable for the critical quarterfinal match due to accumulated yellow cards. Ghana ultimately suffered a 4-2 defeat in the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time and extra time.
During their discussion on various intriguing topics related to the BlackStars, the duo also delved into comparisons between two of Ghana’s football legends: Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ and Tony Yeboah. Initially, Owuraku expressed a preference for Yeboah, emphasising his pivotal role upon arriving in the Premier League with Leeds United.
Owuraku stated, “I think it’s two things for me. There is that confusion as to what Tony Yeboah’s prime was. I just believe that what he achieved at Leeds United goes beyond. When it comes to Ghanaian players abroad, he’s a pioneer. He is the reason more Ghanaian black players were able to move to the Premier League and feel comfortable.”
Describing Yeboah’s impact, he pointed out how Yeboah, a relatively unknown player at the time, scored about 13 to 14 goals in the final 20 matches of the season, helping Leeds finish fifth and qualify for Europe. Although he acknowledged Abedi Ayew’s overall better career, Owuraku argued that Yeboah’s specific contributions during that period deserved recognition.
However, as the discussion progressed, Owuraku later sided with ‘Kawawa,’ admitting the difficulty of overlooking the greatness of Abedi Ayew. Kawawa acknowledged Abedi’s three consecutive African Player of the Year awards and highlighted Marseille’s tactics to sign him by disseminating false information about the player.
On another topic, both debaters agreed to crown Stephen Appiah as a better Black Stars captain than Asamoah Gyan, despite Gyan’s notable impact on the national team, boasting 51 goals in 109 games for Ghana.
Additionally, the assertion that Sulley Muntari had a better Black Stars career than Michael Essien found common ground between Owuraku Ampofo and Yaw Ofosu Larbi in the first episode of the Debate Arena: Sports Arena.
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