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.”
Desailly – Asamoah Africa’s next superstar
