Speaking to KickOffGhana.com at the Castrol Lab in Sandton, the 1998 World Cup-winning captain back the Stade Rennes striker to take the tournament by storm – something he has already started doing after netting the winning goal against Serbia. Asked who he thinks can take over from the likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, Desailly replied: "In Ghana we have one that is good, Asamoah. The system probably allows him to express himself a bit more this time as he is playing more as a central striker. He could be a star," he tells KickOffGhana.com. "Ivory Coast I don't really see anyone – all their players are already at big clubs. Cameroon … no. Only Ghana have that sort of young talent that is emerging." However, Desailly does not believe the Black Stars can be counted as tournament favourites yet – instead, he backs Ivory Coast to fly the African flag. "Ivory Coast are the team that has the first-choice players in Europe – Yaya Toure, Zokora, Drogba. They are the type of players that can handle the pressure. Pressure takes a lot of energy; the quantity games you are playing also … they are able to face it. To reach the quarters or semi-finals, you need brains and also physical strength. For me, the Ivorians have the most potential for this. "Ghana? Look, they have done very well during the African Cup of Nations without Essien, without Muntari, without Mensah. There is a generation which is emerging, but maybe not just yet." A few years ago Desailly's name was put forward as a possible future Ghana national team coach. He admits it could still happen, but not just yet. "I'm doing my final coaching badges in September, but I am not ready yet," he tells KickOffGhana.com. "I'm really enjoying what I'm doing … with Castrol helping them develop the index, and with me television programmes and other businesses, and also my charities. I'm quite free. "In future? I will come in, for sure, probably national team and not as an every day coaching clubs. The exposure is too much every day – today you are the man, the next day you are nothing. I can handle the pressure, but I don't want to get back to that sort of pressure."
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Interesting points Capello, I'm a South African , I’ve been following African football for quite some time now and I think you're also missing some great players from Nigeria, I don't think it's only JJ Okocha who made a huge impact in our African football . But I respect your opinion as my African brother.
I would like to also add few names that I know and I believe they made a huge contribution to keep our African flag high Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi
Finidi George , Emmanuel Amuneke and they also had a good goalkeeper Peter Rufai .
We also know how they (Nigeria) represented the continent in USA 1994
I pause
God bless Africa
Of course Asamoah Gyan is a great player for the future.
I solely support Marcel Desailly's belief.
However, I still think the future of Ghanaian soccer rest on the feet of the likes of Andre dede AYEW, Kwadwo ASAMOAH, Anthony ANNAN, Kevin Prince BOATENG and Dominic ADIYIAH.
However, today the Elephants of CIV made the Portuguese team look so ordinary!!!
They stood their ground and played their game with no fear or over-rating on the CR-led team.
The Elephants took the shine off the star-studded Portuguese side with pacy, sublime ball possession and close marking.
Their ball control and possession was superb.
The Elephants did play like a unify team with so much discipline and strong determination.
I applaud their team spirit.
All they need to do is play another scintillating draw with Brazil and take 3 points from North Korea with a higher score line.
They are off to 2nd round...You never can tell....!!!
Go CIV...Go Elephants!!!!
Today’s CIV draw against CR-led Portugal is another good song from another great African side.
Just like Ghana and South Africa.
The stage is now set for Nigeria, Cameroun and Algeria to follow suit respectively in their next matches.
Go on...Sing a good song!!!
VIVA Africa!!!
God no dey sleep!!!
I am a Nigerian and I know that there are also new players coming up that can probably become stars like Gervinho of Ivory Coast.
There only three greatest African players ever and they are; Samuel Eto'o, Nwankwo Kanu and George Weah as far as I am concerned. Eto'o and Kanu has won more laurels for their countries and clubs than any other Player from Africa.Drogba could have been the fourth player, however, CoteD'Ivorie has not really achieved anything spectacular despite parading one of the best crop of players in the world.
I am a Nigerian and I know that there are also new players coming up that can probably become stars like Gervinho of Ivory Coast.
There only three greatest African players ever and they are; Samuel Eto'o, Nwankwo Kanu and George Weah as far as I am concerned. Eto'o and Kanu has won more laurels for their countries and clubs than any other Player from Africa.Drogba could have been the fourth player, however, CoteD'Ivorie has not really achieved anything spectacular despite parading one of the best crop of players in the world.
I am a Nigerian and I know that there are also new players coming up that can probably become stars like Gervinho of Ivory Coast.
There only three greatest African players ever and they are; Samuel Eto'o, Nwankwo Kanu and George Weah as far as I am concerned. Eto'o and Kanu has won more laurels for their countries and clubs than any other Player from Africa.Drogba could have been the fourth player, however, CoteD'Ivorie has not really achieved anything spectacular despite parading one of the best crop of players in the world.
I am a Nigerian and I know that there are also new players coming up that can probably become stars like Gervinho of Ivory Coast.
There only three greatest African players ever and they are; Samuel Eto'o, Nwankwo Kanu and George Weah as far as I am concerned. Eto'o and Kanu has won more laurels for their countries and clubs than any other Player from Africa.Drogba could have been the fourth player, however, CoteD'Ivorie has not really achieved anything spectacular despite parading one of the best crop of players in the world.
Ghana has done a lot for country in the first place!! We have helped you gain independence, yet you call yourself a senior brother.(hahaha) Ghana trained the first batch of nigerian soldiers still you guys don't give the due respect.
Desailly is just talking about the FUTURE of african football, and see nigerians jump in talking about their history. OMG, when will these empty barrels give us all a break on this continent at all? Your big time talks and overrating yourselves, always force you guys into armed robbery accross the whole continent. You guys just got to content and humble, and all the rest shall be added unto you. Watch other Africans and learn from that.
If my coomment is one of the ones you're referring to, then you got it all wrong.I think that most people agree that Asamoa is good but the fact is he's yet to attain the level of those that I metioned.
If I was biased I would not even metion Abedi Pele, yet he is a Ghanaian.
Even FIFA and othe sports journalists around the globe have said it that Eto'o and Kanu remain the most successful players out of Africa because they ecxelled playng for their countries as well as their clubs.Personally, I rank Eto'o first, next will be Kanu and I leave Weah,Drogba and Essien to fight for the third position.
As for Asamoa, it is too early to say he is the next star eventhough he is a good player.
You should rather get the sense in the article, before you comment!! You seem not to understand the word NEXT.
My personal expectation is that whoever is going to be the next star should have the qualities of those players I mentoned.Currently, Asamoa does not have them, he is a good player no doubt but age is not on his side. Ghana has other young and coming players who can hold their own in football.Even if we forget KANU,WEAH and ABEDI PELE, tell me cooby can you compare Asamoa with DROGBA or ETO'O? at least these two players are still world class.What is the poit of having a star who can not surpass KANU and ETO'S achievements?.
It is not Nigerians who rated Nigeria and Camoroun above Ghana, it is FIFA.If you have any issues with that take it up with FIFA and stop calling people shallow minded.Egypt and Ghana no doubt have the best team in Africa today based on performance but FIFA uses it's standard to rate team.If at the end of the world cup Ghana performs better than any other African treams, then Ghana will be rated over Nigeria and Cameroun but right now,ain't nothing anybody can do about it.
Has he won any major championship for his club or country?Which club does he play for?how many goals did he score for his club last season? Even Gervinho of Cote D'Ivorie seems to be more of a star in the making to me than Asamoa, because he score well for his club and gets good ratings in Europe.