BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has admitted that his team must make significant improvements after Ghana fell 2–0 to Japan in the 2025 KIRIN Challenge Cup.
The match, played as part of Ghana’s build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, exposed several weaknesses that Addo insists must be corrected immediately if the team is to remain competitive on the global stage
The defeat adds to a long-standing debate about the preparedness for major tournaments.
Since the Black Stars’ early exit in the 2023 AFCON and the inconsistent performances that followed, expectations have been high for Otto Addo—who returned as head coach in 2024—to rebuild a disciplined, tactically adaptable team.
The KIRIN Cup, involving high-tempo Asian powerhouses like Japan and South Korea, was seen as a crucial test of the team’s progress.
However, last Friday’s game showed that many of the issues that have plagued the squad in recent years still persist.
The match took a worrying turn when young midfielder Francis Abu suffered what appeared to be a broken leg, leading to immediate concern both on the field and within the Ghanaian football community.
Abu’s club, Toulouse FC, swiftly issued a statement expressing full support and assuring that they would assist in his recovery. Otto Addo described the injury as “serious,” noting that the team’s morale was affected, but he stressed that Ghana must still address its performance lapses.
“It’s a deserved win for Japan. We have a lot of learning ahead of us and we need to improve,” Addo said after the match.
He highlighted Japan’s efficient pressing and the struggle to cope with quick transitions, pointing to structural issues that need urgent attention.
The coach further emphasized the importance of improving Ghana’s resistance to high pressing, maintaining possession in advanced areas, and winning second balls—areas where the team looked particularly vulnerable.
“We really need to learn how to get out of high pressing. We need to hold the ball better upfront and be better on second balls, especially when we have to play long,” he said.
Friday’s match was the first of two high-profile friendlies in Asia, with Ghana expected to face South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.
These matches form a critical part of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup preparations, giving Otto Addo the opportunity to test new players, refine tactical plans, and build cohesion ahead of the global tournament.
