Perhaps the fussiest jersey story of them all is the infamous Ghana’s all-black jersey registered for 2006 Afcon, a victim of a cover-up aided by Ghanaian superstition.
A victim of injuries to Ghana’s top European players; Asamoah Gyan, Chelsea superstar Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari were all not in the squad.
Ghana took injured Sammy Kuffour who played only one match and was back to the treatment table for Issa Ahmed to take over.
The whole world knew Ghana’s inspirational captain Stephen Appiah was not fit. Unfortunately, he played the tournament with a toe injury.
Ghana was kicked out of the tournament by an unfancied Zimbabwe side featuring veteran Peter Ndlovu and Portsmouth’s Benjani Mwaruwari.
The Black Stars’ 2-1 defeat to Zimbabwe, on 31st January 2006 in Ismailia, had nothing to do with the colour or design of the jersey.
That all black jersey was also a victim of a needless offence leading to player suspension and a very woeful performance by a seemingly ill-prepared team.
For the first two group matches against Nigeria and Senegal, the Black Stars of Ghana wore the white jersey yet clear signs of an unimpressive squad and early exit were on the walls.
In the first game, Super Eagles used Ghana’s goal post for target practice but poor shooting (and heroics by Sammy Adjei) kept the score a respectable 0-1 to Nigeria. Taiye Taiwo’s free-kick goal summarised the attitude of the Ghanaian team for the match; poor concentration. No player was eager to form a wall against the free-kick, they looked away as the combative Nigerian left-back fired to score from 35 meters. A gift of a goal.
In the second match, an acute angle goal by Mathew Amoah gave Ghana 3 points but Senegal spent all afternoon bombing Adjei’s goal area wastefully. Laryea Kingston’s theatrics earned him a needless red card, reducing Ghana’s midfield options for the next match against Zimbabwe. Ghana’s squad already had more forwards than midfielders so there were red lights ahead.
Perhaps on hindsight, one can attempt questioning why Captain Appiah was made to play with an injured toe when Baba Armando and Derrick Boateng were on the bench. But for an uninspiring squad like that, perhaps Coach Ratomir Djukovic thought he needed an inspirational captain albeit less than half fit.
An own goal and another defensive gift of a goal gave Zimbabwe a 2-1 win, eliminating Ghana from the tournament. Zimbabwe clearly deserved a higher goal margin. Most people even forget the fantastic half volley Baba Armando scored in additional time for Ghana’s consolation.
Most Ghanaians were disappointed and justifiably livid so when the TV cameras captured a Zimbabwean fan with a placard inscription “Black day for Black Stars” perhaps it triggered superstition.
That match was the first time Ghana was wearing a Black jersey, so it became the easy jinx.
An easy cover-up for a poor representation, indiscipline and poor preparation, was sold to the media as a “Black jersey bad luck” and Ghanaians bought it.
To seal off a good cover-up 6 months later, the replacement Red Ghana jersey made a victorious outdooring, a 2-1 victory over USA qualifying Ghana out of the group stages of 2006 Fifa World Cup. Perfect colour, case closed.
The Black jersey was never to be seen again after only 90 minutes of usage because it was branded “bad luck”.
Every Black Stars jersey colour and design will bring its own fuss, be it National Identity, design aesthetics, fashion statement or our incurable good old superstition.
Facts still remain, jerseys do not score goals, defend a goalpost nor win matches.
By Astus Kwasi Ahiagble
