A damning message flashed on the Lincoln Financial Field scoreboard moments before Jordan Ayew and Kamaldeen Sulemana were substituted — confirming what everyone in the stadium had already seen: the duo were seriously hampering Ghana’s ball progression
The message appeared without fanfare, but it spoke volumes.
With Ghana trailing 1-0 to Croatia in their final Group L clash, the stadium scoreboard at Lincoln Financial Field displayed a statistic that laid bare the Black Stars’ attacking dysfunction: Jordan Ayew and Kamaldeen Sulemana had combined for just 12 completed passes between them.
Moments later, the pair were withdrawn.
A blunt statistical indictment
The numbers told a brutal story. Ghana’s captain and his attacking partner had been virtually anonymous, repeatedly losing possession, failing to link with midfield, and offering little resistance to Croatia’s defensive shape.
For a Ghana side that had already secured qualification to the Round of 32, the performance was alarmingly flat. But for the two attackers, the scoreboard message served as a public indictment of their inability to progress the ball through the thirds.
A night to forget
Ayew and Sulemana had been handed starting berths alongside Antoine Semenyo in a front three. Sulemana had been recalled to the lineup in place of Inaki Williams, while Ayew retained the captain’s armband and his place in the attack.
But the pair struggled from the outset. Ghana’s build-up play was sluggish, with Croatia’s midfield — anchored by the evergreen Luka Modric — cutting off supply lines and forcing the Black Stars into hurried, aimless passes.
By the time the scoreboard statistic appeared, the message was clear: Ghana’s attacking unit was not functioning. The duo’s inability to retain possession, progress the ball, or create meaningful chances had become a liability.
Queiroz pulls the trigger
Head coach Carlos Queiroz acted decisively. Ayew and Sulemana were withdrawn shortly after the message appeared, replaced by fresh legs in a bid to inject urgency into Ghana’s play.
The decision was a sharp one — substituting the captain is never taken lightly — but the numbers left Queiroz with little choice. Ghana’s expected goals (xG) had remained stubbornly low throughout the first hour, and the attacking spark that had earned them a goalless draw against England and a win over Panama was conspicuously absent.
What it means for Ghana
Despite the defeat — Croatia prevailed 2-1 with goals from Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic, either side of Derrick Luckassen’s equaliser — Ghana still advanced to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
But the scoreboard moment served as a warning. If the Black Stars are to make a serious run in the last 32, their attack cannot afford another night like this. The ball must move faster. The passes must find their mark. And the players charged with leading the line must do far more than the 12 completed passes that flashed up on that Philadelphia screen.
For Ayew and Sulemana, it was a night to forget — and a statistic that will linger long after the final whistle.
