Former Black Stars striker Augustine Arhinful says Ghana must start taking matches of this nature more seriously following the team’s 2–0 defeat to Japan in the 2025 Kirin Cup.
Speaking on TV3 after the match, Arhinful stressed that such fixtures are crucial in preparing the team for major tournaments like the World Cup.
“The result wasn’t surprising. A 2–0 scoreline is fair, and it could have been worse considering the number of chances Japan created in the second half,” he said.
“We’ve known for months that we were going to face Japan and South Korea, so we cannot take these games for granted. Communication and proper planning must be at the heart of everything we do.”
Japan began their Kirin Cup campaign with a confident win, handing Otto Addo’s newly assembled squad a tough opening test. Remove ads
Despite the loss, Ghana had some encouraging signs. The introduction of several debutants—including Prince Owusu and Prince Adu Kwabena—added energy and gave the team valuable international experience. Their performances offered hope for the future, with their work rate and confidence standing out.
The Black Stars now shift focus to their next match against South Korea in Seoul, where they will look to improve on their positives and push for a better result.
