Otto Addo says Japan defeat offers key lessons for Black Stars

Black Stars coach Otto Addo believes Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup has provided important lessons as Ghana continues preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after the match, Addo admitted that the team’s performance revealed several areas that require improvement, especially with a squad that had little playing time together.

"It is still early. There are many things I would like to change after what we saw today," he said. "This was a new setup, and most of the players had not played together before. We still have a few matches to prepare for the World Cup, and I want to learn as much as possible from the players who featured today."

The game featured several debutants, as Addo continues to assess new options ahead of next year’s tournament in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Ghana will next face South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday as part of their final international window of the year.