BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The senior national team, the Black Stars, continued their troubling run of form with a 2-1 defeat to Germany in an international friendly, a result that further exposes lingering weaknesses just months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, played at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart on Monday, saw Ghana enter the contest under mounting pressure, having already suffered three consecutive defeats. Hopes of a turnaround, however, were quickly tested as Germany asserted dominance from the opening minutes.
The hosts controlled possession early, with Nick Woltemade firing wide from close range before Florian Wirtz rattled the post with a well-struck free kick in just the sixth minute.
The pressure persisted, and although Serge Gnabry squandered a clear opportunity, Germany’s attacking intent remained evident throughout the first half.
Ghana, by contrast, struggled to create meaningful chances, relying largely on defensive resilience to keep the game level. But that resistance was broken in first-half stoppage time following a controversial VAR decision.
A handball was adjudged against Jonas Adjei Adjetey—his second such offence in consecutive matches after conceding a penalty in the heavy defeat to Austria.
From the spot, Kai Havertz made no mistake, handing Germany a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the break.
The Black Stars returned for the second half with renewed urgency. Prince Adu came close to equalising shortly after the restart, only to see his effort blocked, while Germany continued to threaten, with Woltemade striking the crossbar.
The persistence eventually paid off in the 70th minute when substitute Issahaku Fatawu made an instant impact. Latching onto a well-worked move initiated by Derrick Köhn, Fatawu unleashed a powerful first-time strike into the bottom corner to restore parity at 1-1.
For a brief spell, Ghana appeared poised to mount a comeback. However, the defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued the team resurfaced at a crucial moment.
In the 88th minute, Deniz Undav capitalised on a precise through ball, calmly finishing past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to seal victory for Germany.
Ghana pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, with Antoine Semenyo making a driving run into the box deep into stoppage time, but his effort sailed over the bar, summing up a frustrating night for the visitors.
The defeat marks the fourth consecutive loss, during which the team has conceded ten goals—an alarming statistic that underscores defensive instability. With crucial preparatory matches against Mexico and Wales scheduled in the coming weeks, concerns are growing over the team’s readiness for the World Cup.
Drawn in a challenging group alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, the Black Stars face an uphill task. Unless urgent tactical adjustments are made—particularly at the back—Ghana risks heading into the global tournament without the solidity and confidence required to compete at the highest level.
