- On Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, defeated Liberia 3-1 in a friendly international match. The match served as a part of the training for the future 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as well as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be held in Ivory Coast the following year.
- Chris Hughton’s Black Stars team dominated the match from beginning to end, but they were unable to break the scoreless tie in the first half. The Ghanaian attackers applied pressure on the Liberian defense, which was commanded by captain Sam Johnson, but they were unsuccessful on multiple scoring opportunities.
- The second half, however, was a different story as Ghana scored three goals in a row to secure the win. The goal was first scored by French player Ernest Nuamah for Lyon in the 51st minute after a cross by defender Nicholas Opoku. Mohammed Kudus had help from Nuamah and used a low shot from inside the area to double the lead a minute later. In recognition of his outstanding performance, Kudus, an Ajax player from the Netherlands, was awarded the game’s best player.
- Emmanuel Gyasi’s excellent run and ball allowed Jordan Ayew, a replacement, to score the third goal in the 76th minute. Ayew, an English player for Crystal Palace, celebrated his goal alongside his brother Andre, a late substitution who was well-received by the crowd.
- In extra time, Liberia’s Divine Teah beat goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi with a curling shot from outside the area to score a consolation goal. The Lone Stars’ goal was a rare moment of happiness considering how outclassed and outplayed their Ghanaian opponents were.
- With this victory, Hughton has now won three of his last five games since taking over as Black Stars coach in July 2023. Ernest Nuamah, Emmanuel Gyasi, Fatawu Issahaku, and Abdul Fatawu Safiu are just a few of the new players he has brought onto the club. Hughton said he was pleased with his team’s performance and was looking forward to the upcoming international break in October 2023.
- The Black Stars will play friendly matches against the USA and Mexico before starting their World Cup qualifying campaign against Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. With six points after two games, Ghana is presently in first place in Group G. The Black Stars are also training for the AFCON competition in Ivory Coast the following year, when they will compete in Group C against Morocco, Comoros, and Gabon. Ghana wants to halt a 40-year streak of losing the continental championship.
