Ghanaian coach Bismark Kobbie Mensah has defended the Black Stars' performance in their recent Unity Cup defeat to Nigeria, insisting the team did not play badly despite criticism from sections of the public and media.
The much-anticipated clash ended in a 2-1 win in favor of Nigeria, with both teams showcasing moments of brilliance but also drawing scrutiny for missed chances and spells of sluggish play. In the wake of the result, some fans expressed disappointment over Ghana’s inability to dominate proceedings.
However, Mensah, who has been a key part of the technical bench of the Black Galaxies as assistant coach, believes the Black Stars displayed character, discipline, and tactical awareness throughout the contest.
“I think the Black Stars did well yesterday,” Kobbie Mensah told Happy FM. “Considering the number of new players who were given a chance, the team didn’t perform badly at all.”
Ghana stood firm against a Nigerian side packed with attacking firepower. Despite moments of pressure, the Black Stars kept their shape defensively and frustrated the Super Eagles in key areas of the pitch, but sadly lost the match.
Mensah acknowledged that while the finishing could have been better, the structure of the team was commendable.
“Ghana lost because Nigeria had a very good first half; they took their chances.”
With the Black Stars still rebuilding after recent disappointments in major tournaments, many within the football community have called for patience with the current technical team.
Kobbie Mensah's message was clear — while expectations are high, the team needs time to gel and grow.
However, the lessons from the Unity Cup could prove invaluable — not just in tactics, but in building unity and resilience for the challenges ahead.
By: Pascal Amoah
