Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has provided insight into Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to long-time rivals Nigeria in the semi-final of the Unity Cup held at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on Wednesday night.
Ghana fell behind early as the Super Eagles took control of the match, with goals from Cyriel Dessers and Semi Ajayi giving Nigeria a commanding lead. Although substitute Thomas Asante pulled one back for the Black Stars with 20 minutes remaining, it wasn’t enough to mount a full comeback.
Addressing the media after the match, Addo attributed the loss to his side’s lack of familiarity and cohesion, citing the absence of several key players as a significant factor.
“It’s not always easy, especially when we have players who haven’t played together often,” Addo explained. “Nigeria has a more mature team that adapted quicker. We struggled to press, engage in duels, and maintain our defensive structure.”
Despite the defeat, the coach remained optimistic, pointing to the learning experience for the newer players in the squad as they continue to build towards future competitions.
