Can Ghana make Africa proud in Qatar after edging out Nigeria?

When the 2022 World Cup playoff draw pitted Ghana against Nigeria, it was seen as the best possible clash for the Super Eagles. 

Only the Democratic Republic of Congo would have been a preferable team for Nigeria. 

Although Ghana had a better head-to-head record, it was a good draw for Nigeria on paper because there was this feeling the momentum had shifted, especially after the Black Stars' disappointing exit at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana had failed to qualify from a group that had Morocco, Gabon and Comoros. 

Not that Nigeria fared better, but the Super Eagles were impressive in the group stages, winning all their games before a round of 16 exits following a loss to Tunisia. 

Following the nations cup, Ghana decided to sack Milovan Rajevac, replacing him with Otto Addo while bringing in Chris Hughton in a technical adviser role. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria stuck with Austin Eguavoen, who had only taken the job just one month before the AFCON after Gernot Rohr was sacked. 

But despite the changes, Nigeria were still seen as the favourites going into the game. 

Not only because of their performances at the AFCON but because Nigeria also had better quality in their squad. 

However, as the famous saying says, names don't play the game. 

And that was what happened exactly as Ghana secured a tactical win to book their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

The Black Stars held Nigeria to a goalless draw at home before playing a 1-1 draw in Abuja to secure qualification on away goals rule. 

It means Ghana gets to play at another World Cup while the Super Eagles are left to lick their wounds for another two years before the qualification for the 2026 World Cup begins. 

So with Ghana's qualification sealed, what are their chances of making Africa proud in Qatar? 

Qatar 2022 will be Ghana's fourth appearance at the World Cup. The Black Stars made their debut at the biggest sporting event on earth in 2006, where they crashed out in the round of 16, losing 3-0 to Brazil. 

But it was still a successful tournament for them as they qualified from a group that had Italy-the eventual champions, the Czech Republic- the second ranked team in the world then and the USA.

The Black Stars made their second appearance at the World Cup in 2010, hosted by South Africa.  

It proved to be their most successful to date, as they were just a penalty away from reaching the semifinal. 

After qualifying from the group stage, Ghana defeated the USA in the round of 16 to set up a quarterfinal clash against Uruguay. 

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time as the tie went into extra time. 

With just a minute left in the game, Ghana were awarded a penalty after Luis Suarez handled the ball on the line. 

Asamoah Gyan was the man designated to make history, but the ex-Sunderland man failed when it mattered most, sending the ball high from the spot. 

Gyan's miss sent the tie to penalties, which Uruguay won, ending Ghana's chances of becoming the first African side to reach the World Cup semifinal. 

Four years later in Brazil, Ghana qualified for their third successive World Cup, but it turned out to be a disaster as they crashed out in the group stage. At the same time, there was also a dispute between the players and Ghana's football officials over bonus-related issues. 

The four-time AFCON kings missed out in 2018 but will now return to the world stage in Qatar later this year. 

Judging from their previous appearances, one would be tempted to say the Black Stars are likely to make Africa proud. 

In fact, one could argue that Ghana rightly deserved the qualification ahead of Nigeria because they have performed better than their West African rivals on the world stage. 

Although Nigeria have qualified six times, their best showing has been a round of 16 three times. 

In contrast, Ghana have qualified for the round of 16 once and the quarterfinal in two of their three appearances. 

But while Ghana have always represented Africa well, this Black Stars squad do not possess the same quality as the previous Ghana teams. 

In the 2006 and 2010 squads, there were players like Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien, Richard Kingston, Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan. 

These were players with big personalities playing in Europe's top leagues. 

The same cannot be said about the current Ghana squad. Many of their players play in inferior leagues, and some do not even enjoy regular playing time. 

Their goalkeeper at the AFCON and in the World Cup playoff games against Nigeria, Joseph Wollacott, plays for Swindon Town in League 2. 

This is not a slight on the young goalkeeper, who was impressive against Nigeria, but it shows a lack of top players in Ghana's squad. 

Arsenal's Thomas Partey is the team's biggest player, but the Arsenal man can only do little when Ghana comes up against the best of the best in Qatar. 

Although it was emphasised earlier that names do not play football, Ghana were only lucky because Nigeria could not make use of the superior talents they had in their squad. 

The Black Stars will not be that lucky in Qatar, and the lack of quality in their squad will be exposed by better teams.

Their coach did a great job over two legs. But unless there are some quality additions like Chelsea's Hudson Odoi and Southampton's Mohamed Salisu, he faces a difficult job of replicating the feat of Rajevac-the man he replaced. 

While stranger things have happened in football, the only way Ghana could make a deep run in Qatar is if they have the luck of the draw. 

And with teams like Argentina, France, Brazil, Spain and England in the competition, it does not look like luck will be on their side. 

Early prediction: A Group Stage exit.