Former Ghana international Michael Osei says the Black Stars must go extra mile in order to get a favorable result when they face South Korea in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Black Stars will take on South Korea in their second Group H game on Monday afternoon at the Education City Stadium.
Otto Addo’s team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Portugal whiles South Korea shared the spoils with Uruguay in their opening games respectively.
The 2016 European Champions, Portugal currently sit top of Group H with three points.
Meanwhile, the defeat means Ghana are bottom of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw last Thursday.
Speaking to Footballghana.com, the Bibiani Goldstars trainer was of the opinion the Black Stars double their effort to beat the Asian country.
Meanwhile, he has urged Ghanaians to lower expectations for the national team at the mundial.
“Is normally a difficult game but everything is possible. We should lower expectations, this is World Cup, the highest level in the game so every opponent is not easy to beat”
“We need to go extra mile and be tactically discipline against Korea” he said.
Ghana midfielder Salis Abdul Samed has explained why the Black Stars suffered defeat against Portugal in the World Cup.
The Black Stars lost 3-2 in their World Cup opening game against Portugal and will hope to turn things around against the Koreans.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in World Cup history to score five times, with his second-half penalty giving Portugal the lead against Ghana last Thursday.
Ghana’s Andre Ayew then equalized, but two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao secured the victory and moved Portugal to the top of Group H, despite Osman Bukari’s late winner.
The Black Stars will take on South Korea in their second Group H game on Monday afternoon at the Education City Stadium.
Speaking ahead of the Korea clash, the RC Lens midfielder said Ghana lost to Portugal because there were spaces between them in the second half after defending so well in the first half.
“I think we did a good job against Portugal although we lost the game. Before the game, we knew they are very good individually, they have good players who plays for big clubs”
“So we thought they will kill us but we listened to the instructions from our coach and defended well in the first half but in the second half there were more spaces between us so they scored us on counter breaks on two occasions” he said.
Africans have a history of being cheated on at the World Cup, according to Ghanaian icon Dan Owusu, who is apprehensive about officiating at the 2022 edition.
The dominant nation of West Africa lost its World Cup opener against Portugal, and they will look to rebound against Korea.
Last Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo made World Cup history by becoming the first player to ever score five goals. His second-half penalty gave Portugal the advantage over Ghana.
Andre Ayew of Ghana then tied the score, but Portugal won and topped Group H despite Osman Bukari’s late winner with to two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.
The Black Stars will take on South Korea in their second Group H game on Monday afternoon at the Education City Stadium.
And ahead of the game, the three-time Ghana Premier League goal king winner has expressed his displeasure about the performance of referees at the tournament as he believes Africans always suffer from bad officiating.
“This year’s World Cup is full of surprises and so, know team can be underrated. With a little push you can excel. Before our game against Portugal, many Ghanaians had underrated Ghana but the players proved everyone wrong despite the defeat”
“The players did very well against Portugal but one mistake Otto Addo did was Andre Ayew substitution. I think Ghana can progress from the group if the players replicate the performance against Portugal” he told Koforidua-based Bryt FM.
“I still don’t understand why Otto Addo substituted Ayew. The referee who officiated our game against Portugal must be punished, I expect FIFA to sanction him. It might be also that, the officials who operated the VAR were asleep because I think the referee should have consulted VAR to clarify things. Africans always suffer from bad officiating” he said.
Portugal is expected to win Group H, which includes the Black Stars at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, according to Ghana coach Otto Addo.
The Black Stars lost their initial World Cup game to Portugal, and they’ll be hoping to rebound against Korea.
Last Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo made World Cup history by becoming the first player to ever score five goals. His second-half penalty gave Portugal the advantage over Ghana.
Andre Ayew of Ghana then equalized, but Portugal won and topped Group H despite Osman Bukari’s late winner with two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.
The Black Stars will take on South Korea in their second Group H game on Monday afternoon at the Education City Stadium.
Ahead of the clash, the Germany-based trainer says Portugal are favourite at the moment to top Group h.
“At the moment, it looks like Portugal, we were a bit unlucky like we could have earned a point against them”
“You see everything is possible, Uruguay is good and South Korea also, I think it’s equal group and anything can happen. I think there might be surprises” he said.
The captain of Ghana Black Stars, Andre Ayew has reassured supporters that the Black Stars will bounce back from their loss and overcome South Korea.
In their Group H opening against Portugal at Stadium 974 in Doha, the Black Stars were defeated 3-2.
Andre Ayew swiftly brought Ghana back into the game after Ronaldo’s penalty kick goal, and the A Seleço quickly took the lead again with two more goals.
In order to cut the deficit and set up a tight finale, Osman Bukari came off the bench.
Fans’ reactions to the outcome have been mixed, with some believing that the Black Stars should have at least earned a point.
Black Stars would now have to battle for maximum points against South Korea and Uruguay to secure a place in the next round.
However, Andre believes that situations like this are normal for the Black Stars and that a solution will be found.
“We always come out of difficult situations. We need to stay calm, go home, relax and increase our performance. We need to try and score more and concede less,” he said.
South Korea v Ghana game has been scheduled to kick off at 13:00GMT at the Education City Stadium.
Former Ghana international Dan Owusu is confident the Black Stars will defeat South Korea to better their chances of qualifying to the knockout phase at the World Cup.
Ghana suffered defeat in their World Cup opening game against Portugal and will hope to turn things around against the Koreans.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in World Cup history to score five times, with his second-half penalty giving Portugal the lead against Ghana last Thursday.
Ghana’s Andre Ayew then equalized, but two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao secured the victory and moved Portugal to the top of Group H, despite Osman Bukari’s late winner
The Black Stars will take on South Korea in their second Group H game on Monday afternoon at the Education City Stadium.
Ahead of the clash, the three-time Ghana Premier League goal king winner who believes the Black Stars can defeat South Korea has charged the players to be aggressive.
“I’m sure the technical team monitored South Korea when they played Uruguay and know what to do”
“The Koreans run too much but if we are able to match them just like Portugal we can beat them. We can beat them but the players must be aggressive, I want the players to emulate Saudi Arabia, no one gave them chance but they defeat Argentina with their aggressive style of play” he told Koforidua-based Bryt FM.
At the Education City Stadium in Qatar, the Black Starswill play again today when they take on the Taegeuk Warriors.
Following a 3-2 loss to Portugal in their Group H opening, Ghana will enter the game wanting revenge. South Korea and Uruguay were able to draw 0-0 in the meantime.
Prior to Monday’s match against South Korea in their second World Cup game, Ghana coach Otto Addo acknowledged feeling under pressure.
Ahead of the clash, Addo has revealed why they will face a difficult task against the Taegeuk Warriors.
The Black Stars will need a win to stand a chance of reaching the knockout stage. Heading into matchday two, Ghana are fourth without a point while Portugal are top with three points.
After facing South Korea, Ghana will conclude their group matches against Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday.
Head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo, has revealed that the hunger of the players to play and succeed ahead of their next World Cup match in Qatar, is making it difficult for him to make decisions.
Addressing a pre-match presser ahead of the team’s Group H game against South Korea, he stressed that Ghanaians will see a more ‘passionate’ Black Stars.
He however disclosed that the enthusiasm of his troops is making it difficult for him to finalise his decisions.
“We will see a passionate team against South Korea. We will see this same passion they showed the last game. Everybody is hungry to play and training [well], making it difficult for me to make decisions”, Otto Addo said.
Meanwhile, coach, Otto Addo, has dismissed assertions that the team over-respected Portugal in their first World Cup clash at Doha’s 974 Stadium.
According to some critics, the team lost their opening Group H game because they were overwhelmed by the calibre of the Portuguese, forcing them to coil into their shells.
But reacting to these concerns, the Black Stars trainer stated in a presser on Sunday that his boys played without any intimidation.
According to him, even though the squad had some inexperienced legs, it did not affect their confidence against the star-studded Portuguese side.
Responding to a question from JoyNews‘ Gary Al-Smith, he said, “I don’t think it’s true. Our players did so well. I don’t think we over respected them”.
He continued, “For me, we showed that we could compete with them, even though we had a lot of inexperienced players.
Some even had their debuts in the last game against Switzerland, but they performed”.
In a match that saw what has been widely described as ‘unfair officiating’, the Black Stars lost by three goals to two against the Portuguese last Thursday, November 24.
After a goalless first half, the Portuguese drew first blood after Ronaldo converted a controversial penalty in the 65th minute.
The lead was soon canceled by Ghanaian skipper, André Dede Ayew in the 73rd minute, after tapping home from a pass by Ajax midfielder, Mohammed Kudus.
But the Portuguese took the lead again and deepened their dominance with goals from João Félix and Rafael Leão in the 78th and 80th minute respectively.
The Stars managed to close the gap with an 89th minute strike from substitute, Osman Bukari, heading home a cross from former Chelsea defender, Baba Rahman.
However, this was not enough to stop the team from conceding their first defeat in the tournament.
The team is therefore poised to make amends in their next match against South Korea, Otto Addo said.
Addressing the press, he said his charges are fired up for their second game in Qatar.
He said Ghanaians will see a passionate Black Stars team against South Korea on Monday.
The smart move is a realisation of a plan the Minister for Youth Sports, Mustapha Ussif, told Parliament ahead of the start of the tournament, would be an innovative fan mobilisation strategy due to the inability of the government to fund supporters from Ghana as a result of the economic challenge the country finds itself in.
Ahead of Ghana’s opening group match on Tuesday, the Ministry and the Ghana mission successfully mobilised over 1000 Ghanaians and Africans and provided them with match tickets and apparel in Ghanaian colours.
The mobilised fans, together with the few from Ghana, set the stadium agog as the Black Stars battled Portugal.
Mustapha Ussif, in the company of the Ghana Ambassador to Qatar, met the supporters and thanked them for availing themselves to cheer on the Black Stars.
The Ministry will continue the mobilisation effort in upcoming games against South Korea and Uruguay.
The Sporting Lisbon youngster was an unused substitute as the Black Stars were defeated 3-2 in their World Cup opener at Stadium 974.
Despite not participating in the encounter with the Navigators, Fatawu Issahaku stated that he accepted coach Otto Addo’s choice.
“I expected to play, because all players want to play. It’s the coach’s decision, but I’m fine with that. He knows in which position I can perform more, so it will always be his decision,” said Fatawu.
The Black Stars of Ghana will play their second group game against Asian giants South Korea at Al Rayyan’s Education City Stadium. The game will kick off at 13:00 GMT.
At Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, the Black Stars, who are playing in their fourth FIFA World Cup, will play Uruguay to round off their group stage schedule.
The game on Monday will be played at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Ghana’s first game ended in defeat against Portugal on Thursday. Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score in five World Cups as his dubious penalty was Portugal’s first in the encounter. Ghana equalised through Andre Ayew in the 73rd minute.
South Korea on the other hand drew goalless with Uruguay also on Thursday. Hwang Ui-jo blazed over from close range before Diego Godin hit the post with a header as the two sides traded blows in the first half.
Edinson Cavani came off the bench to replace Luis Suarez but no goal was forthcoming – Federico Valverde hitting the post from distance being the closest either side came.
Coach Otto Addo after the game against Portugal stated that Monday’s game against the Asian giants is crucial.
Son has been one of the most in-form players at Tottenham this season, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 19 appearances so far.
The Black Stars lost 3-2 to Portugal in the opening game while South Korea held Uruguay to a goalless draw in the other Group H game. Ghana will have to beat South Korea to stand a chance of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
“I know Son because we play in the premier league and we have a strategy to stop him,” Amartey said at a pre-match press conference.
“We will try to stop every offense against Korea and Son is a very good player. I know him because I worked with him in Germany.”
He could switch to a back and have more men in attacking areas. He is likely to set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 system an approach he feels on when Ghana needed goals against Portugal.
The formation, which was used against Switzerland, Nicaragua, and the latter part of the Portugal game, has given Ghana assurance in attack regarding chances creation and fluidity in build-ups.
Tariq Lamptey
Tariq Lamptey, who made a good impact with his cameo against Portugal could get the nod to start against South Korea.
He contributed immensely to the team’s build-up down the right and helped the team’s transitions.
Alexander Djiku to start from bench
If Otto Addo decides to settle on a four-back for the game, Djiku, who started in a three-man defense will be sacrificed.
Otto Addo could use the slot for a winger in his lineup.
Kamaldeen Sulemana
One key problem Ghana encountered during the Portugal defeat was the lack of a speedster down the flank.
Ghana’s wing game was flat and Otto Addo could change that with the introduction of Kamaldeen on the flanks against South Korea.
Following their loss to Portugal, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has stated that his team must defeat South Korea to have any chance of leaving the group.
“TVI broadcast the debut game which had a total of 3.9 million people watching, with an average audience of 2.3 million and a share of 64.5 percent”, says UM, the media agency of the Mediabrands group.
This was the most watched game of the group stage, followed by the Brazil vs Serbia and France vs Australia games.
According to Univesal McCann, the transmission of this game by TVI was a good bet for the channel, since it recorded a share of 22.2 percent, an increase of 6.8 percentage points compared to the accumulated average for the month of October”.
After a goalless first half, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal via the penalty spot but Ghana improved after the goal and scored the equalised through skipper Andre Ayew from close range.
Portugal responded with two goals in two minutes to seal the points – Joao Felix converting a delightfully clipped finish and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.
The Black Stars will now switch their attention to their attention to the match against South Korea on Monday before taking on Uruguay on December 2 at the Education City stadium.
After defender Mohammed Salisu’s challenge in the 65th minute resulted in a penalty for Ronaldo and Portugal, Otto Addo was clearly unhappy.
In the match, Ghana fought hard but ultimately fell short, losing 2-3.
But Otto Addo in his outburst described the penalty as a gift from the referee to Ronaldo who made history as the only male player to score in 5 FIFA World Cups when he converted the penalty against Ghana.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the second group game against South Korea on Monday, Otto Addo apologized for his remarks and said he hopes to avoid a fine or any kind of punishment for the utterances.
“ First of all I like to apologize for the remarks after the game. I think I was a little bit too emotional and I hope I don’t get a fine. “
Ghana will play Korea on Monday in a game they must avoid defeat if they are to progress to the next stage of the tournament.
Sutton says the former Real Madrid star has a set a ‘terrible example for young kids everywhere’ because of his ‘cheating’ to win the penalty as quoted by Daily Mail.
Ronaldo elected himself to convert the penalty before two more goals were added by Joao Felix and substitute Rafael Leao to complete the victory in the Group H opener of the World Cup.
Ghana head coach Otto Addo was outraged by Elfath’s decision to give the penalty to the Seleçao as he expressed during the post-match conference.
“If somebody scores a goal, congratulations. But this was really a gift. Really a gift. What more can I say? [It was] a special gift from the referee,” Addo said
Former France Ambassador to Ghana, Ann Sophie Ave has commended the BlackStars over their game against Portugal’s, despite their defeat.
She believes the boys’ performance was exceptional.
Portugal got a slim 3-2 win against Ghana on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
Ghanaians have expressed their disappointment in referee Ismail Elfath.
Popular sports journalist, Saddick Adams even called on FIFA to review and sanction the referee.
Reacting to the performance of Ghana, Ambassador Ave stated that they fought honourably.
She was also happy about the two goals scored by Ghana as the only African team to attain that during the period.
The France Ambassador wrote: “Look at it this way. Out of 3 subsaharian African teams, Ghana 🇬🇭 is the only one who scored 2 goals. And against Portugal 🇵🇹 Sad of course but still proud they fought honourably.”
In the initial 2022 World Cup Group H match, the Black Stars lost to Portugal 3-2.
With his second-half penalty giving Portugal the lead, Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to ever score five goals at a World Cup.
The West African powerhouse opponent, Uruguay, and South Korea shared the spoils, playing a pulsating 0-0 draw.
Assessing Group H after day one games, the BBC has tipped South Korea, Uruguay, and Portugal to compete for a spot in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
“In Group H, Korea, Uruguay, and Portugal will compete in the round of 16.” said the BBC.
In the 2016 European Champions, Portugal currently sits top of Group H with three points.
Meanwhile, the defeat means Ghana are bottom of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw earlier on Thursday.
Ronaldo became the first male player to score in five different World Cups after opening the scoring with a decisive penalty in the second half.
Before Joao Felix and Rafael Leao scored after clever passes from Bruno Fernandes, Andre Ayew tied the score for Ghana.
Ghana scored late, and the score ended up being 3-2.
Ronaldo, who was named man of the match, spoke for only 2 minutes and 12 seconds at the press conference and left just as questions about the penalty decision were about to be asked.
“This is a moment that makes me very proud. That chapter (United) is closed. I’m here to win. The rest does not matter,” he said.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo criticized the decision, describing it as a gift to the Portuguese legend.
The Ghana Football Association plans to petition FIFA to remove referee Ismail Elfath for his subpar performance during Ghana’s opening match against Portugal at the currently taking place world cup in Qatar.
The Portuguese team was given a controversial penalty by the American referee, which was well converted by captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
The third goal scored by the Selecao by Rafael Leao also sent tongues wagging because both critics and supporters believe that Leao was in the wrong.
According to numerous sources, the GFA feels hardly defeated by the judgments and has now decided to submit a petition.
On Monday at 13:00 GMT, the Black Stars will play South Korea in their second group match.
According to NAPO, as he is affectionately known, the stars will perform admirably when they play against their South Korean rivals thanks to Ghana’s respectable team.
He stated this in response to Ghana’s defeat to Portugal in their opening Group H match.
Read His Post Below
“It was an enjoyable experience watching the Ghana-Portugal match in the conference room of the Ministry of Energy with my staff.
“We shared our collective groans and cheers as the match went on and we willed the Stars on. Unfortunately it was not to be.
“I believe we have a decent team and that we will do much better when we meet South Korea in our next game.
Former president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama believes that the current Black Stars team has demonstrated that they are a fiercely competitive group that merits the full support of the Ghanaian people.
He admits that the nation did not receive the outcomes that were anticipated, but he is certain that things will turn around in upcoming games.
The former president pointed out that the youthful Ghanaian team will succeed with the right assistance.
Read His Post Below
“That was not the result we were expecting from the game against Portugal. But we’ve confirmed that we are a very determined side for this World Cup.
“Let’s continue to pray and support the team as they prepare for their second and the final group matches.
“This team, is a young team! A work in progress. We should be proud of them.”
Inaki Williams of the Black Stars, a striker, nearly shocked Portugal with a sensational late equalizer that sent Cristiano Ronaldo dumbfounded.
The Athletic Bilbao forward was positioned behind Diogo Costa, the goalie, who had the ball in his hands as the Black Stars trailed Ronaldo’s Portugal 3-2 in stoppage time.
Williams sneaked up behind Costa to win the ball after he rolled it out because Costa neglected to glance behind him.
However, the 28-year-old made touch with the goalkeeper at a critical moment and slipped. After the incredible escape, Danilo Pereira cleared off the line as captain Ronaldo shook his head in shock.
Inaki Williams responded to the Black Stars’ World Cup 2022 loss to Portugal following the match.
There is no time for regrets, there are 2 games left still… 🦾
Thank you fans for the unconditional support. ♥️🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/3haQ8M2w6e
It will be challenging for Ghana’s team to defeat South Korea in their second group encounter, according to coach Otto Addo.
On Thursday at the 974 Stadium, the Black Stars faced Portugal in the opening match of their 2022 World Cup campaign.
The European team defeated the four-time champion African team 3-2.
The second group match between Ghana and South Korea will take place on Monday at 13:00 GMT at the Education City Stadium.
Addo emphasized that they must defeat the Koreans in order to advance to the tournament’s next round before the game against the Asian team.
When asked if Ghana could advance to the next round of the competition following the match against Portugal, the 49-year-old responded, “First of all, there is no doubt that we have a chance, especially since they played a draw. If we defeat South Korea and Portugal defeats Uruguay, which is what Portugal is hoping to do, then we will finish second, increasing our chances.
“And since South Korea is a good team, it will undoubtedly be very, very difficult to defeat them. But now, we must triumph.
He continued, “Not only are we under pressure, but so are they.
Portugal already leads the group after the victory, although today’s setback to the Black Stars might not be too costly given that South Korea and Uruguay earlier in the day drew 0-0.
Asamoah Gyan, a former captain of the Black Stars, praised Andre Ayew’s contribution to Ghana after the team’s opening match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ayew scored in the Black Stars’ 2-3 loss to Portugal in their opening Group H match before being substituted and Jordan Ayew taking his place.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot, and Ayew responded by scoring off a ball from Mohammed Kudus. Goals from Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, and Osman Bukari then ensured a 3-2 victory.
Gyan described Ayew as a big game player when serving as a pundit on Supersport, taking into account his national team’s goal-scoring records.
“I think he is the man for the big occasions. 24 goals and he’s not even a centre-forward, I think that is impressive,” he said.
The Al-Sadd forward has now scored three goals for Ghana in the World Cup after the goal against Portugal, and he will try to increase that total against South Korea and Uruguay in Ghana’s upcoming matches.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has described the President’s visit to the Black Stars in Qatar as the best motivation offered to the players.
President Akufo Addo paid a visit to the National Football Team in Qatar ahead of their game with Portugal, which has been criticised by some Ghanaians.
But in a statement on the floor of Parliament, a day after the 3-2 defeat of the team by Portugal, the Minority Leader said the gesture by President Akufo-Addo was encouraging and showed the love of the country to the players.
“It was encouraging the president in camp with our players, that is that best motivation they could get,” Mr Haruna Iddrisu said on Friday.
Portugalbeat Ghana 3-2 in their World Cup opener, with Ronaldo netting from the spot after going down under a challenge from Mohammed Salisu.
Many viewers disagreed with the decision, thinking Salisu got the ball and that Ronaldo went down easily.
“The defender clearly plays the ball,” former Premier League referee Mike Dean said after the game adding, ‘Ronaldo then touches the back of the defender, goes down, instigated contact.
“It’s not the referee’s fault – he’s given the decision on the field of play. The VAR, in my opinion, should have got involved and invited the referee over to have a look at it.”
He added: “It’s scary, I have to say. I’m just astounded. I like to back referees all the time but you can’t support stuff like that. You can’t defend the indefensible.”
Members of Parliament have commended the Black Stars for their performance in their World Cup match against Portugal.
Even though Ghana lost 2 goals to 3, the MPs said they put up a good performance during the match.
Member of Parliament for South Tongu, Kobena Mensah Woyome, in his statement on the floor, congratulated the team for being able to hold their opponent to a 3:2 scoreline.
Former Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah in reference to the referee awarding a penalty against Ghana, said it affected the progress of the team.
He said the officiating has come to question and he will urge the Black Stars to do more concentration on the field of play.
“Going forward, next two matches, we urge the Black Stars to know that as Azumah Nelson once said, ‘bring your mother as a referee and I’ll still beat you’ that should be their mindset and we are happy they are doing the needful, they are protesting to FIFA.”
Member of Parliament for Talensi, Benson Tongo Baba also urged the players, and technical handlers to put the defeat behind them and look forward to the matches ahead of them.
He also called on Ghanaians to continue to support the team.
“Let us see that this should be the beginning for things to change in this country that we should work together as one nation with a common destiny.” He said.
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said Portugal did not deserve the win.
“Mr Speaker, the right thing to do is to congratulate Portugal as winners undeservingly. They don’t deserve the victory because we were robbed of our victory by poor officiating and not just the penalty awarded in favour of Ronaldo even the second goal of Portugal by VAR is kind of offside goal if you observe it but it was not confirmed.”
He urged the team to concentrate on their match, adding that the coach did not need to make any changes during the match.
He said they are proud of the Black Stars so far.
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the second half was very explosive and the best so far in the tournament, adding that Ghana lost to the referee and not to Portugal.
“We lost to the referee and not to Portugal. Mr Speaker, in such instances the VAR will be resorted to. Who were the people manning the VAR system? Such that the referee was not prompted because clearly the two players went for the ball and they touched the two feet of the two players almost at the same time and there was no tangle. So how come did the referee whistle for a penalty against Black Stars and the people manning the VAR system did not prompt the referee? It wasn’t a conspiracy against Africa? Mr Speaker, the temptation to arrive at this conclusion is there for everybody.” He said
The Black Stars lost their opening Group H game 3-2 to Portugal at Stadium 974 on Thursday, November 25, 2022.
The first Portuguese goal which was a penalty has reportedly triggered a petition to FIFA to investigate the conduct of the referee.
After the game, he praised the team’s efforts in a Facebook post, calling it a “gutsy performance.”
He claimed that despite the team’s inability to score the requisite points, they nevertheless showed their mettle and demonstrated their capacity to overcome any other challenge.
On that point, he asked Ghanaians to support the Black Stars, reiterating his belief that Ghana can advance to the competition’s next round.
“The Black Stars gave a brave showing against Portugal tonight. I’m so happy for the whole team. They have demonstrated that they are capable of blending it and living to fight another day.
“Looking forward to the next game against South Korea, and I urge all Ghanaians to rally strongly behind the team. I am confident we can qualify from this group. #GoBlackStarsGo”, he added.
The Black Stars’ performance against Portugal in their initial Group H matchup has been praised by many as being “spirited.”
However, the Portuguese managed to win by a slim margin of three goals to two after the whole 90 minutes.
Some football fans and analysts claimed that Ismail Elfath, a US referee, was biased, which contributed to the Europeans’ triumph. Elfath has since come under fire for his “bad officiating.”
President Akufo-Addohas congratulated the Black Stars of Ghana, following the team’s World Cup opener against Portugal.
In a Facebook post after the match, he described the team’s efforts as a ‘gutsy performance’ worthy of commendation.
According to him, even though the team could not secure the necessary points, they still proved their mettle and displayed their ability to withstand every other opposition.
On that note, he urged Ghanaians to throw their weight behind the Black Stars; stressing that he believes Ghana can progress to the next stage of the competition.
“Gutsy performance by the Black Stars in today’s match against Portugal. Very proud of the entire team. They live to fight another day, and have shown they have what it takes to mix it up against any team in the tournament”, Akufo-Addo remarked.
“Looking forward to the next game against South Korea, and I urge all Ghanaians to rally strongly behind the team. I am confident we can qualify from this group. #GoBlackStarsGo”, he added.
On Thursday, the Black Stars put up what many have described as a ‘spirited performance’, in their opening Group H game against Portugal.
however after the end of 90 minutes, the Portuguese managed to carry the day by a slender lead of three goals to two.
According to some football fans and pundits, the victory of the Europeans was aided by the bias of US referee, Ismail Elfath, who has since been heavily criticised for his ‘poor officiating’.
Manager of the side, coach Otto Addo also believes that the referee did his team a lot of damage with some questionable decisions.
In a post match press conference, he described the penalty which gave the Portuguese the opening goal, as a ‘gift from the referee’.
He therefore berated the referee for his officiating on the day.
The Black Stars currently sit at the bottom of Group H with no points to their name.
Meanwhile, the team will play South Korea on Monday, in their second Group H encounter, as they seek to grab some points to enhance their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
The match against the Taegeuk Warriors of South Korea will be played at 1:00pm on Monday 28th November 2022, at the Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
The captain of the senior national team, the Black Stars, Andre Ayewhas admitted that they paid for their mistakes in their opening game against Portugal in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Thursday.
Ghana lost 3-2 to Portugal after conceding two quick goals within two minutes in the last quarter of the game.
In a post-match interview, Captain Ayew said, the penalty awarded against them affected the morale of the team and changed the course of the game, adding that they were also unable to recover from the second goal from Portugal.
“In football you would always pay for your mistakes, and that is what happened to us.
“We made some errors, and they punished us for that. The last two goals from Portugal were so quick we could not recover, but we have always survived difficult conditions and we would come back good,” he explained.
Ayew, however, noted that, they would be able to change their fortunes in the next game; adding that, they had always come out of difficult situations.
“We qualified for the world from a very difficult group and conditions. I know this team we always get out of very difficult conditions.
“I am convinced we would return good in the next game. We showed good character in the game against Portugal, and we can make things better in the next game,” Captain Ayew stated.
Meanwhile, Ghana would take on South Korea in their second group game on Monday, November 28.
Former Ghanaian midfielder, Bernard Dong Bortey has expressed his discontent with Baba Rahman’s starting position for the Black Stars.
The defender from Chelsea on loan played the entire time as Ghana lost 3-2 to Portugal in the Group H World Cup opener on Thursday.
With his second-half penalty giving Portugal the lead, Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to ever score five goals at a World Cup.
Andre Ayew of Ghana then tied the score, but Portugal won and topped Group H despite Osman Bukari’s late winner with to two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.
In a post sighted by The Independent Ghana, the former Hearts of Oak star lauded the Black Stars team despite defeat but raised concerns about Baba Rahman’s starting role.
Great great performance but as I said at this stage concentration level should be 200% but no matter how Baba Rahman plays at training he should always be a sub not a starter. My personal opinion
“Great great performance but as I said at this stage concentration level should be 200% but no matter how Baba Rahman plays at training he should always be a sub not a starter. My personal opinion” he tweeted.
The 2016 European Champions currently sit top of Group H with three points.
Meanwhile, the defeat means Ghana are bottom of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw earlier on Thursday.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to their upcoming matches against South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2, respectively.
Ghana’s defender Alidu Seidu, has responded to the Black Stars’ 2022 World Cup loss to Portugal on Thursday.
With his second-half penalty giving Portugal the lead, Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to ever score five goals at a World Cup.
Andre Ayew of Ghana then tied the score, but Portugal won and topped Group H despite Osman Bukari’s late winner with to two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.
The Clermont Foot defender stated the club will push forward despite losing to Portugal in a post.
.He wrote, “We keep pushing, appreciate your support constantly.
With three points, the 2016 European Champions are presently in first place in Group H.
In the meantime, the loss places Ghana at the bottom of Group H following Thursday’s goalless stalemate between Uruguay and South Korea.
The Black Stars will now concentrate on their upcoming games on November 28 against South Korea and December 2 against Uruguay.
Captain of the Ghana Black stars Andre Ayew, has stated that despite their loss on Thursday, the Black Stars will still advance to the next round of the 2022 World Cup.
The Black Stars lost to Portugal 3-2 in their opening match of the Mundial at the 974 Stadium.
As Ghana prepares to play South Korea in their second Group H match on Monday at the Education City Stadium, with kickoff set for 13:00GMT, captain Andre Ayew believes his team has what it takes to advance.
“We were selected for the world in a highly challenging group and environment. I’m aware that this team always manages to overcome challenging situations, he added following the game.
The win takes Portugal top of the group but the 0-0 draw between South Korea and Uruguay earlier in the day means today’s loss might not prove to be too costly for the Black Stars.
Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
The Black Stars are aiming to play the next round after exiting at the group phase in 2014 in Brazil.
While it lasted, the 2022 FIFA World Cup match between the Black Stars and their Portuguese opponents produced both joyous and heartbreaking moments.
Numerous Ghanaians, especially celebrities, were unable to conceal their emotions when key moments of the game were filmed showing equal amounts of enthusiasm and despair.
The Black Stars quickly responded with an equalizer after supporters were miffed that the referee failed to stop Mohammed Salisu’s challenge, which led to Ronaldo’s penalty, which the latter scored.
Celebrities from Ghana who were watching from their homes, bars, etc. were enthused by the goal.
But when the Portuguese scored their second and third goals, resulting in a 3:2, their hearts were pounding and their sadness was visibly etched on their faces.
These people demonstrated fervent support for the Black Stars squad throughout the game, as seen in the range of their reactions collected in a popular video.
Some spectators, however, feel that Ghana was the victim of poor refereeing because of what they felt was a dubious penalty awarded to Portugal during the game.
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo said he tried speaking with referee Ismail Elfath after their 3-2 defeat to Portugal in their 2022 World Cup opener on Thursday.
The 47-year-old was furious that referee Elfath pointed to the spot in the 63rd minute and argued that Ronaldo had actually fouled Mohammed Salisu.
After the goalless first half, Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal via the penalty spot but Ghana improved after the goal and scored the equalised through skipper Andre Ayew from close range.
Portugal responded with two goals in two minutes to seal the points – Joao Felix converting a delightfully clipped finish and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.
Osman Bukari headed in a late consolation for Ghana and there could have been real drama in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
“I tried. I asked some people from FIFA if I could talk briefly to the referee in a calm and quite way. But they said he is in a meeting and so it’s not possible,” coach Addo said after the game.
“I think they do match analysis with their instructor after the match so they go through the match. But surely, may be sometimes you could have some minutes for the coach.”
The defeat means Black Stars are bottom of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw earlier on Thursday.
The Black Stars will now switch their attention to their attention to the match against South Korea on Monday before taking on Uruguay on December 2 at the Education City stadium.
In Ghana, all eyes were set on the Black Stars world Cup Opener on Thursday November, 24.
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and other public figures watched the group H opening thriller in Accra.
Despite a solid fight, André Ayew’s teammates lost to Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad 2-3.
Ghanaian fans were still proud in defeat.
“Our players have really done well. Just that some few lapses that made us lose the game but I hope that Insha Allah, the next match, we are going to make it,” Alhaji Said Mutaka said.
“There’s no need for us to be angry or mad at them, not at all”, Black Stars fan Jessica Selikplim insisted.
“They did well, it wasn’t easy. The game was actually tough but they did well, scoring two, they have done well, like Kudos. They’ve done well, like.”
At the Stadium 974 in Doha, All the goals came in a wild final half-hour. Ronaldo scored on a contested penalty, Ayew then equalized for Ghana.
Joao Felix regained the lead for Portugal, and Rafael Leao added a third. Osman Bukari reduced Ghana’s deficit in the 89th.
Ghana will play South Korea on Monday and will count on its fans.
Coach Otto Addo said the Black stars proved Thursday they could “compete with the opponent”.
For now, they sit at the bottom of group H. The group comprises of Ghana, Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay.
Former President Mahama is full of applause for the senior national team, the Black Stars, after last night’s opening game against Portugal.
The team in a dramatic manner lost painfully to Portugal while demonstrating resilience and tenacity.
The former President in a Citi News interview observed the talent of the team and appealed to Ghanaians to stand behind it.
“The players played very well and very confidently. The boys have talents. So this is the Black Stars for now and the future, so let’s give them all our support, and I am sure they will go far.”
A two-minute collapse in the second half by Ghana’s Black Stars helped Portugal pick up a 3-2 win in their Group H clash.
Andre Ayew’s 73rd-minute goal cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty and appeared to have given the Stars a new lease of life.
However, goals from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao in the 78th and 80th minutes put Portugal back in control.
Osman Bukari headed home a second for the Black Stars, but the Portuguese held on, despite nine added minutes, to pick up all three points.
The defeat would have been hard for Otto Addo’s men, who stifled Portugal for much of the first half and the beginning of the second.
Ghana even looked more dangerous than they had in the first half, as Kudus flashed a shot just wide after a surging run.
It was Portugal, however, who broke the deadlock with a controversial penalty.
Mohammed Salisu was adjudged to have taken down Cristiano Ronaldo in the box by the referee, who stuck to his guns despite the protests from the Ghanaians.
Ronaldo stepped up and fired home clinically to put Portugal ahead.
The lead lasted only five minutes as Kudus Mohammed, who had troubled the Portuguese with his speed and skill all game flashed in a cross from the left which was tapped home by Andre Ayew.
Disaster struck moments later when Baba Rahman failed to deal with a through pass. Joao Felix pounced on the loose ball and finished beautifully.
Substitute Rafael Leao rushed through on goal and slid the ball past Lawrence Ati Zigi.
Ghana looked down and out but were handed some hope when Osman Bukari headed home Baba Rahman’s cross.
Nine minutes of injury time flew by as the Stars searched for an equaliser and they almost found it when Inaki Williams snuck in behind Diogo Costa to steal the ball but slipped at the crucial moment.
The win takes Portugal top of the group but the 0-0 draw between South Korea and Uruguay earlier in the day means today’s loss might not prove to be too costly for the Black Stars.
“I have seen some new players in there who played some fantastic football so we have some great potential in there. Otto Addo is a good coach so I think we should give him some space to able to blend the team. So far so good”, Mr. Mahama added.
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has admitted his side are under pressure to qualify from Group H after losing 3-2 to Portugal in their 2022 World Cup opener on Thursday.
Black Stars began their campaign on a wrong note, losing narrowly to Fernando Santos’ side.
After the goalless first half, CristianoRonaldo opened the scoring for Portugal via the penalty spot but Ghana equalised through skipper Andre Ayew from close range.
Portugal responded with two goals in two minutes to seal the points, Joao Felix converting a delightfully clipped finish and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.
Osman Bukari headed in a late consolation for Ghana and there could have been real drama in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
“First of all, surely, we have a chance especially because they played a draw so if we win against South Korea and Portugal win hopefully against Uruguay then we will be second so the chance is still big,” coach Addo said after the game.
“And surely it will be very, very tough to beat South Korea because they are good. But now we have to win. We are under pressure but they too.”
The defeat means Black Stars are bottom of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw earlier on Thursday.
The Black Stars will now switch their attention to their attention to the match against South Korea on Monday before taking on Uruguay on December 2 at the Education City stadium.
Ghana coach Otto Addo fumed at the decision to award Portugal a penaltyin their thrilling win over the Black Stars on Thursday, declaring: “I don’t know if the VAR wasn’t paying attention”.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to net at five editions of the World Cup when he opened the scoring from the spot at Stadium 974, as Portugal eventually ran out 3-2 winners.
Ghana, however, were incensed by referee Ismail Elfath’s decision to award the spot-kick, believing Mohammed Salisu won the ball with his challenge on the five-time Ballon d’Or-winner.
Asked whether Ronaldo benefitted from a favourable decision, Addo said: “I think you’d have to ask the referee. I have no proof of that, but we were playing the ball, then there was a contact.
5 – Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score five in different editions of the World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). Limitless. pic.twitter.com/w6noDKxoVR
“If I look at that moment, it’s incredible. If you look at a replay, we played the ball. It was actually a foul against us.
“The game was hectic, we made a few mistakes to allow the second and third goals, opening the lines for them to pass it. It was a little bit unlucky.
“With a bit of luck, we could have got one point. The referee was not in our favour. In my view, our yellow cards were deserved, but for me, holding jerseys is also a yellow card. I don’t know what was wrong, but he was really not in our favour.
“I asked some people from FIFA if I could talk briefly to the referee in a calm and quiet way, but they said he is in a meeting and it’s not possible.
“I think they have match analysis, so it’s the truth, but surely you can have some minutes for the coach.”
Ghana full-back Tariq Lamptey was also asked about the decision, responding: “I think you saw it. You can give your opinion.”
The African nation have now lost their opening match on three of their four participations at the World Cup (W1), but Lamptey believes there were plenty of positives to take.
“Obviously, I would have liked to get the win,” Lamptey said. “They have a lot of world-class players in their team, but we felt like we could have got the result we deserved, and we were so close to getting that.
“We know we played well, but it’s a difficult one as we know we could have got something. We’ll put that energy into our next game and give it our best.”
4 – Portugal 3-2 Ghana was just the fourth #FIFAWorldCup match to see as many as five goals having been 0-0 at half-time, after:
Poland 5-1 Peru (1982)
Netherlands 2-3 Brazil (1994)
Belgium 3-2 Japan (2018)
Black Stars first group game at the 2022 World Cup ended in defeat on Thursday afternoon. The game at the Stadium 974 ended 3-2 after a fightback from Ghana.
The Black Stars of Ghana in the first half battled the Portuguese in all departments. After halftime, the entire encounter changed as both sides went for goal.
The Portuguese were the first to score through a dubious penalty given by the referee. Former Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot.
Ghana scored in the 72nd through skipper Andre Ayew. Rafael Leao and Joao Felix added the two goals for Portugal then winger Osman Bukari netted Ghana’s second goal.
Bilbao attacker Inaki Williams got a late opportunity to equalize for Ghana but slipped when he was about to shoot.
The Black Stars will now focus on beating South Korea and Uruguay.
Social media is buzzing with comments following Black Stars game with Portugal.
Although the team could not win the game, most of celebrities have commended the boys for playing a solid game. Their only concern was with the penalty in favor of Portugal. According to these celebrities Portugal did not deserve the penalty.
Below are some reactions.
Big up stars 🇬🇭 messed with my emotions but it’s part of it 🙏🏿🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭
Black Stars of Ghana lost 3-2 to Portugal in their 2022 World Cup opener on Thursday at the Stadium 974 in Doha.
Here are five things we learned from the game:
Cristiano Ronaldo shows he’s not finished yet
All talks before the game was surrounded around one performance and that’s Cristiano Ronaldo. He parted ways with Manchester United prior to the game but he did not allow that to distract him. He scored from the spot to give his side the victory they’ve been looking for and they aim to go all the way to the finals and clinch the title.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi in possession of Ghana’s No.1 shirt
Who would have thought Lawrence Ati-Zigi will be in post for Ghana’s opener against Portugal and I’m assure he would think same. Lawrence kept his first clean for Ghana in their 2-0 win over Switzerland after conceding in all his appearances for the Black Stars. He displayed an impressive performance against Portugal but could not save Ronaldo’s penalty. He deserves to be Ghana’s No.1 for the forseeable future.
Andre Dede Ayew shines again at World stage
He showed why he’s the leader of the team. When hopes were all lost, Ayew stepped up and equalized for Ghana. The 32-year-old will go down as one of the greatest players of all time to ever represent Ghana. He may not be his father but has shone whenever he plays for the Black Stars
Mohammed Kudus shows he’s Ghana’s most in-form player
Ghana’s most in-form player at the moment, Kudus Mohammed will have several clubs chasing after his signature following an impressive showing. He assisted Ghana’s goal and was a difficult to play against. He was by far Ghana’s best player before he was substituted
Alidu Seidu solves Ghana’s right back problem for years
The young and energetic Seidu was a delight to watch on his competitive debut for Ghana. He was lively till he was booked for a foul. He was defensively sound and was effective when attacking on the right flank. Tariq Lamptey will have to wrestle hard to get an opportunity at the World Cup
Akufo Addo left the shores of the country on Wednesday night and arrived in Doha early hours of Thursday morning.
He headed straight to the camp of the team to motivate them ahead of the much-anticipated clash later this afternoon.
Ghana, who are making their fourth appearance at the Mundial will face the European country at the 974 Stadium.
Kick-off has been scheduled at 16:00GMT.\
Otto Addo, who is the head coach for the side, and the playing body are determined to make a strong start at the global showpiece.
Ghana will hope to rewrite their story at the Mundial after exiting at the group phase in Brazil in 2014. The West African side also failed to qualify for the last edition hosted in Russia in 2018.
The best performance of the team was in 2010 in South Africa where they played in the quarterfinal.
The Black Stars after the Portugal clash today will face South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
Member of Parliament for Talensi, Benson Tongo Baba, has called on Ghanaians to give the Black stars all the support they need in the World Cup tournament.
He said he had no doubt Ghana would qualify for the next stage as he believes this is a payback time against Portugal and Uruguay.
Speaking on the floor of parliament ahead of today’s match against Portugal, the MP stated that he believes Ghana will win the game.
“Today is very important day. I believe that Ghana having played Portugal previously, today is revenge time and Ghana would have to win and will win at all costs. After this match, the others will follow in line and Ghana will move to the next stage.
“What we require as a nation is to give them our moral support we should pray that there are no injuries and be strong to confront our next opponent Uruguay who through default eliminated us in 2010 so another payback time is expected from the Black Stars,” he said in the chamber.
Ghana will face Portugal at Stadium 974 (Rass Abou Aboud) as the two sides go head-to-head for the second time at the World Cup.
The two countries first met in 2014 when Portugal beat Ghana 2-1 in the final group game with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the winner.
Black Stars defender Denis Odoi is confident his side can upset former European champions Portugal in their 2022 World Cup opener on Thursday.
Coach Otto Addo’s side will begin their campaign against Cristiano Ronaldo’s side before taking on South Korea and Uruguay in the other Group H matches.
Black Stars are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament following a poor 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon where the Stars exited at the group stage, failing to win a single game.
“Everyone knows Portugal players are of a high level,” he told the BBC World Service.
“We still have to play the game. It is not like Portugal has won this game. I am sure they are aware of that.
“If you look at the performances of other African counties, and Saudi Arabia [against Argentina], you still have to play the game.”
Asked about how the new players are settling in including Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams, he added, “We’ve used this last week to fit everybody in and to get used to the system and practice the defensive and offensive battles.”
“And everybody gets to know each other a little bit better on the pitch.”
Ghana are making a record 4th World Cup appearance in Qatar having previously played in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 in Germany, South Africa and Brazil respectively.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
Black Stars exited the group stage at the 2014 edition in Brazil after a slow start to the tournament.
