Ghana's Black Stars captain Gideon Mensah has taken responsibility for the team's 4-2 defeat to The Gambia, admitting that "nothing worked" for the team on Tuesday. The match was played at the Accra Sports Stadium, and Mensah acknowledged his own role in a difficult evening for the Black Stars. He conceded the penalty that helped The Gambia launch their comeback and also lost possession leading to the third goal.
Mensah urged the public to consider the circumstances surrounding the current squad, particularly the number of new players brought into the team following several withdrawals. He noted that it takes time for new players to adjust and that being a new player means mentality and a lot of things that don't come overnight. The Ghana captain praised the players who accepted their call-ups and made themselves available despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the squad.
The result leaves Ghana without a point from their opening two Group C qualifiers after also losing 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké. The Black Stars will now have to regroup as they look to revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, had earlier expressed disappointment with the team's performance, stating that the last time Ghana won was eight games ago.
Mensah's comments come after a challenging period for the Black Stars, with several key players withdrawing from the squad. The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, has been under pressure to deliver results, and the loss to The Gambia has raised concerns about the team's chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Queiroz has since apologized for the defeat, saying that the team needs to say sorry for their performance.
The Gambia's victory was a significant upset, with Ghana being the higher-ranked team. The Gambian coach has since stated that beating Ghana did not surprise him, highlighting the progress his team has made. The win has boosted The Gambia's chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and they will look to build on this momentum in their future matches.
The loss to The Gambia has raised concerns about the state of Ghanaian football, with some critics calling for changes in the team's management and strategy. However, Carlos Queiroz has stated that his resignation would not solve Ghana's football issues, emphasizing the need for a long-term approach to address the team's challenges.
The Black Stars will look to bounce back from this defeat when they face Morocco in a friendly match, although the latter has since called off the game following Ghana's AFCON setback. The team will need to regroup and reassess their strategy as they look to revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars captain Gideon Mensah takes responsibility for the team's 4-2 defeat to The Gambia.
- The loss leaves Ghana without a point from their opening two Group C qualifiers.
- The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, has apologized for the defeat and emphasized the need for a long-term approach to address the team's challenges.
