The 2019/20 football season for Ghanaians abroad was one filled with ups and downs. Some players had the best season of their careers while others didn’t even make a single appearance.
Today, we give a brief review of the performance of some Stars in Europe.
Jordan Ayew has an absolutely blinding season for Crystal Palace; the best of his career so far. His eleven goal contributions in thirty seven Premier League appearances helped Crystal Palace to a mid table finish, and he swept home the individual awards at the end of the campaign, winning the Crystal Palace Player of The Year, Crystal Palace Players’ Player of The Year and the Crystal Palace Goal of The Season awards.
Swansea City talisman Andre Ayew has another productive season for the Swans. The Ghanaian international finished as their top scorer with fifteen goals in forty four appearances, laying off seven assists for teammates as well. He led them to the Championship playoffs and was unlucky to be knocked out on aggregate by Brentford after scoring a stunner in the first leg.
Thomas Partey has had another marvellous season at the heart of the Atletico Madrid midfield. The Ghanaian stalwart made forty six appearances in all competitions this season and put up some splendid displays, with stellar performances against Valencia in the league and Liverpool in the Champions League placing him amongst Europe’s elite.
Majeed Ashimeru was an important part of Red Bull Salzburg’s league winning campaign. The twenty two year old made twenty appearances for Salzburg this season, with five goal contributions to his name from midfield.
Mohammed Kudus had another excellent campaign for FC Nordsjaelland. The 20-year-old made twenty eight appearances for the Danish outfit this season, with thirteen goal contributions from midfield. His stellar displays led to Ajax Amsterdam securing his services with a €9 million bid.
Newcastle winger Christian Atsu has had an abysmal season for the Magpies. The twenty eight year old failed to score in twenty four appearances this season. His terrible form saw him start only eight games the whole season, and he will be looking to have a much better campaign next season.
Daniel Amartey had an injury plagued season. The versatile defender only made a single appearance in the entire season. That appearance came against Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Trophy. He will be looking for more game time next season.
Eugene Ansah’s goalscoring record over the just ended season was a major cause for concern. The twenty five year old Hapoel Raanana forward who was called up to the most recent Black Stars squad scored just three goals in twenty five games for the Israeli outfit. He seriously has to work on his finishing ability if he wants to compete for a starting berth in the Black Stars.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei is another Ghanaian international who had a disappointing 2019/20 campaign. The twenty six year old left winger could only manage a single goal and two assists in thirty four games for SC Paderborn in the Bundesliga in the just ended season. His lack of productivity may have been one of the reasons the German club found themselves rock bottom of the table and relegated to the second division.
Mubarak Wakaso has failed to register a single goal contribution in eighteen appearances for both Deportivo Alaves and Jiangsung Suning in professional football this season. The thirty year old put in some lacklustre performances over the course of the campaign and will look to improve upon them for his new club next season.
Celta Vigo centre back Joseph Aidoo had an okay season at the heart of the Spanish outfit’s defence. The twenty four year old made thirty three appearances and would be looking to build upon his performances next season.
John Boye had an average season for FC Metz. He played everywhere across the back four for the French team and managed to chip in with two goals of his own at the offensive end.
Andy Yiadom had an okay season for Reading FC in the English Championship. The twenty eight year old right back chipped in with four goal contributions in twenty five games for the Royals.
Versatile Crystal Palace winger Jeffrey Schlupp had an average season for the Eagles. The twenty seven year old managed to contribute to Palace avoiding the drop with five goal contributions despite playing only seventeen games.
Kwadwo Asamoah could only manage eleven appearances for Inter Milan in all competitions this season, but put in solid performances in the left wing back role whenever he was selected. He did not contribute much offensively with just one assist to his name, but his defensive work ensured that Inter Milan challenged Juventus for the Scudetto right to the very end.
2019/20 may have been great for some Ghanaians and terrible for others, while others still were caught in between, but they will all look to improve upon their performances in the 2020/21 season.
By Nene Afadzinu