With nine days remaining for the biggest sporting event to be underway, Ghana as one of the qualified team set to make an appearance at the Mundial would certainly have to prove their worth and assuredly, an individual in the heart of defense might just be the rock, nullifying the opposition attack.
Ghana, assembled in Group L would have to face England, Panama and Croatia and at the expense of the attacking lads of these three teams would be a weapon in human form, fortified with the gentle act of defending with a touch of Maldini’s skillset.
For a squad that has been notably criticized for not being defensively sound, with recent data revealing that, the Black Stars of Ghana in their last three competitive friendly games have conceded nine goals without the espy in defense.
Now, enough of the suspense, while you wonder, who is the “X” factor in the heart of defense, I tell you what, the former Strong Tower Football Academy player, Kojo Oppong Peprah embodies a missing piece Ghana’s defense has always yearn for.
For a player known for his physicality and aerial duels ability, he has caved a niche for himself, which makes me a dominant figure with an excellent stamina. Plus, with his versatility, he has the ability to play on either the right or left side of the central defense.
After concluding a personal stellar season with OGC Nice in the French Ligue-One, Kojo Oppong Peprah was acknowledged as one of the best defenders with impressive ball passing ability-completing a passing rate of 92 percent with a high rate of successful long range passes.
Further, with all his defensive acumen, he managed to engage himself in 70 combined tackles with an averaged ground duels. In the French Ligue-One this season, he racked up 29 appearances and bagged a goal.
In all competitions this season, Kojo Oppong Peprah featured in 45 games, keeping eight clean sheets and smashing a total minutes of 3,532. With no iota of doubt, he walks into this World Cup as one of the most inform defenders and the best defender for Ghana.
As Ghana will obviously miss out on the services of Alexander Djiku, Kojo Peprah Oppong is set to come in handy, accommodating all the defensive responsibility while while playing the role of the leader of Ghana’s defensive backline.