Ghana’s Black Stars fell 2–0 to a disciplined and energetic Japan side in the 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup on Saturday, as Otto Addo’s men continued their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, played at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi, exposed familiar weaknesses in Ghana’s play despite opportunities to respond, and also handed debuts and new responsibilities to several players.
Addo named a heavily tweaked starting line-up, with West Ham United goalkeeper Joseph Anang making his senior debut and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo wearing the captain’s armband for the first time.
The changes were aimed at assessing squad depth, but they ultimately came with mixed outcomes.
Anang was called into action almost immediately, producing a calm save in the 5th minute to stop a tame Japanese effort. But the early warning signs quickly evolved into pressure that Ghana struggled to manage.
In the 16th minute, Semenyo lost possession in midfield, gifting the hosts space to counter swiftly. Japan captain and former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino latched onto a perfectly weighted pass and curled a composed finish beyond Anang to put Japan ahead.
Ghana attempted to wrestle back control, with Brandon Thomas-Asante unleashing a well-struck volley that forced a deflection for a corner.
Derrick Kohn also tried his luck from distance, but his effort veered wide. Kohn, however, was most impressive defensively, throwing himself in front of a goal-bound strike to prevent Minamino from grabbing a second.
Despite those flashes of resistance, Japan remained the more purposeful side.
Their sustained pressure paid off again just after the hour mark.
Ritsu Doan timed his run to perfection before sliding a sharp near-post finish past Anang, doubling the advantage and effectively putting the contest beyond Ghana’s reach.
The evening took a further downturn for the Black Stars when midfielder Abu Francis suffered a serious injury while attempting a tackle early in the second half.
The incident visibly shook his teammates and disrupted Ghana’s rhythm as medical officials rushed to his aid.
Japan continued to create opportunities and could easily have extended their lead, but their forwards were erratic in the final third, allowing Ghana to avoid a heavier defeat.
The Black Stars, meanwhile, struggled to find their attacking cohesion, with their forward line largely isolated and their midfield unable to dictate play.
The defeat underscores the work Otto Addo must oversee in the coming months—particularly in transitions, ball retention, and defensive organisation—if Ghana is to present a more formidable challenge at the World Cup.
Ghana now turns its attention to their next international friendly against South Korea on November 18, another stern test as preparations intensify ahead of 2026.
The Black Stars will hope for a stronger performance and positive response as they continue their rebuilding process.
