Ghana's Black Stars suffered a shocking 4-2 defeat to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. Defender Gideon Mensah, who captained the side in the absence of several senior players, took full responsibility for the loss. He attributed the defeat to the team's inability to perform as expected and acknowledged that luck was not on their side. Mensah expressed his disappointment and apologized to the Ghanaian fans.
Mensah pointed to the difficulty of integrating new faces into the team, noting that many players are still adjusting to what it means to wear the national colours. He emphasized that it takes time for new players to learn that playing for Ghana comes with high expectations. The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, also defended his midfield choices and decision not to start some of the new faces. He stressed that he has never been afraid to give opportunities to youngsters.
Queiroz attributed the team's poor performance to conceding two soft goals just before half-time, which he believes destroyed the team's morale and turned the game around. He noted that the team was in total control, leading 2-0 through Ernest Nuamah's penalty and Felix Afena-Gyan's low drive. However, The Gambia pulled one back from the spot and snatched an equaliser before the break, leaving Ghana stunned.
The defeat is Ghana's second in a row in Group C, following the opening 2-0 loss to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké. Queiroz managed the squad carefully, especially after starting the game with only two fit centre-backs. He praised substitutes Ibrahim Sulemana and Augustine Boakye, who lifted the team after coming on. Boakye earned his first Black Stars call-up under Queiroz for the World Cup.
Queiroz explained that several players were short of game time, including Kojo Oppong Peprah, Kwasi Sibo, and Sulemana. He had to make decisions to have solutions, given the circumstances. The coach also reserved special praise for Sulemana and Boakye, who made a significant impact after coming on.
The Black Stars' preparation for the qualifiers was affected by several player withdrawals, including Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Antoine Semenyo. The team is considered weak without these key players, who are part of the team's spine. Their withdrawals raised concerns about the team's ability to face Côte d'Ivoire.
The loss to The Gambia has raised concerns about the team's chances in the 2027 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. The team's next match will be crucial in determining their fate in the competition. The Ghanaian fans are eagerly waiting to see a turnaround in the team's fortunes.
Key points
- - The Black Stars suffered a 4-2 defeat to The Gambia. - The team's captain, Gideon Mensah, took responsibility for the loss. - Coach Carlos Queiroz attributed the defeat to conceding two soft goals before half-time.
