‘Independence Day’ inspires Ghana skipper versus Mali
Ayiah’s jersey number marks his country’s formation day and will fire him on against Mali in quarters
GUWAHATI: The polestars of soccer teams usually wear jersey numbers 10 or 9. Ask Pele, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Michel Platini or Zinedine Zidane.
But the spotlight of the quarterfinal between twice champions Ghana and Mali is on two jerseys sporting numbers usually not associated with the best in the business.
Ghana expects captain and striker Eric Ayiah to carry on the kind of form that saw him net two goals against India in the group stage and convert a penalty against Niger in the Round of 16. Ayiah wears 6 on his back.
The number isn’t just lucky for Ayiah. It is associated with the date of his existence as well as his country’s.
“My birthday is the same as my country’s independence day – March 6. That is why I have never opted for any other number since I started playing,” Ayiah said ahead of Saturday’s knockout match here that would leave just one African team in contention for the title.
Ayiah was the second highest goal-scorer in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, but the Cristiano Ronaldo fan was off target when it mattered most – in the final less than six months ago.
MALI’S LIVEWIRE
That match in Gabon saw midfielder Mamadou Samake – Mali’s jersey No 17 – steal the limelight with a 22nd minute goal that denied Ghana a third Cup of Nations title.
Samake has not scored a goal in this tournament, but he has had a hand in most of the 13 goals Mali have scored so far. A regular in the Mali playing XI, his presence will remind Ghana of the wound inflicted six months ago.
Ghana won the inaugural African U-17 tournament in 1995 and again in 1999. That was Ghana’s best soccer decade with the U-17 team lifting the World Cup in 1991 and 1995.
Several players of that decade went on shine in Europe, Michael Essien (Chelsea, Real Madrid), Stephen Appiah (Juventus) and Samuel Kuffour (Bayern Munich) among them.
Ghana coach Samuel Kwasi Fabin believes his team has the talent to win a third FIFA U-17 World Cup. “The Cup of Nations defeat is behind us. We will be out to show we are the best,” he said.
AFRICAN HATTRICK
His Mali counterpart Jonas Kokou Komla is equally confident of making India the stage for an “African hattrick”. If Mali or Ghana emerge champions, it will be three-in-a-row for Africa. Nigeria beat Mexico 3-0 to win their maiden title in 2013 and retained it in 2015 by defeating Mali 2-0.
“Mali could not cross the last hurdle two years ago, but our team brought joy to Malians by winning the African championships this year. There is no reason why we can’t make our people happy again,” said striker and captain Seme Camara, Mali’s No 9.
Mali did not have the best start in Group B. They lost to Paraguay 3-2 but won against Turkey (3-0) and New Zealand (3-1) before thrashing Iraq 5-1 in the Group of 16. Ghana topped Group A, wins against Colombia (1-0) and (India 4-0) sandwiched between a 0-1 defeat to USA. They beat Niger 2-0 in last 16.