Former Black Galaxies and Kumasi Asante Kotoko Striker Eric Bekoe believes Ghana’s poor performance against Madagascar is a true reflection of the domestic league.

Ghana lost to the Malagies by two goals to zero in the first Group C game of the 2022 Total Energies African Nations Championship in Algeria, a first meeting between the two countries at the tournament.

Daniel Annor Walker’s side lost just a single game against the Super Eagles B of Nigeria in the qualification series at the Moshood Abiola Stadium. However, they progressed to the CHAN tournament proper on penalties.

The team also engaged three friendlies in Egypt, where they beat Egypt’s U-20 and also Egyptian side Al-Ahly and drew against host nation Algeria in their preparatory games prior to the start of the tournament.

The two-time runners-up (Ghana) will now have to beat Sudan on Thursday at the Mohammed Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine at 7 p.m. to stand any chance of making it out of the group stages.

Speaking to Class Sports on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, Eric Bekoe who was a member of the 2009 squad that lost to Democratic Republic of Congo in the final, lamented the poor standard of the local league as a contributing factor to the loss against Madagascar.

“I think first of all, we are showcasing our local league. If the league is up there, that is the level or the platform to exhibit the kind of league you are playing in your country,” he argued.

“I keep pounding on it that, the quality of our league is down and it boils down to the foundation, the foundation is weak. These are some of the players playing in the premier league and they cannot even pass and receive the ball well,” he bemoaned.

“A perfect example is what happened to Ghana’s right back (Augustine Randolph) who gifted the Malagies the second goal,” he cited. “These are grassroot lectures that players go through [but] not when in the premier – you are now being taught how to pass, and how to shoot.”

On the back of the two-time and defending champions Morocco’s withdrawal from the CHAN tournament, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded three bonus points to each team in Group C.

What this means is that Madagascar currently sits top of the table with six points, two goals; Sudan who are yet to play Ghana sit second with three points, no goal; then Ghana is third with three points minus one goal; and Morocco with no points.

The last time the Black Galaxies failed to qualify out of the group stage was in 2011 in Sudan, finishing with zero points – a group which consisted of South Africa, Niger and Zimbabwe.