The squad flew into Japan underprepared, with visa issues that limited call-ups to just 22 players. By the time Benjamin Asare arrived, it was hours before kick-off as he could only train once.
Meanwhile, key figures like Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Fatawu Issahaku, Thomas Partey, and Alexander Djiku were absent, leaving the team light on experience and cohesion.
Preparation was painfully short. The players barely had two training sessions, all while coping with jet lag, and it showed. In a lopsided match, Ghana were thoroughly outplayed by Japan and lost 2-0.
To make matters worse, Francis Abu suffered a horrific leg injury in that game and is now set to miss the rest of the season.
Then, just ahead of their upcoming friendly in South Korea, Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Salisu were also ruled out due to injury, leaving Addo with only 19 players - and only 16 outfielders. As things stand, the Asian tour is looking like a sunk cost.
But all is not lost. Despite the chaos, there are three very real ways Otto Addo can turn this mess into a meaningful moment ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Test Benjamin Asare as the No. 1
Asare has been confirmed by Addo as Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper. He has kept five clean sheets in seven caps since his debut earlier this year.
But he hasn’t really been tested under real pressure until now. Facing a strong South Korea team, with attacking options like Heung-Min Son, Kang-In Lee, and Hee-Chan Hwang, is exactly the kind of challenge every long-term No. 1 must face.
Starting Asare in Seoul would not just be symbolic; it’s an opportunity to validate whether he truly deserves the keeper’s jersey for the World Cup.
Try Caleb Yirenkyi in midfield
Caleb Yirenkyi is an intriguing prospect. At FC Nordsjaelland, he mostly plays in central midfield, but he’s been used as a right-back in his early Black Stars appearances, including his debut in the Unity Cup. With Kingsley Schindler no longer in the picture and other right-back options limited after Tariq Lamptey’s long-term injury, Addo has repeatedly deployed Yirenkyi in that role.
Yet his true strengths may lie in the centre: in the second half versus Japan, after Abu’s injury, he pushed into midfield, making key interceptions, driving the ball forward, and generally showing composure.
In friendlies like these, Addo has the perfect sandbox to experiment. If he can slot Yirenkyi into midfield, he might discover his best role and also get clarity on what steps he needs to take to properly solve the right-back issues.
Find a new leader on the pitch
With the absence of Jordan, Partey, and Djiku, Addo’s forced hand might just turn into an opportunity.
In the Japan friendly, the captain’s armband was passed around as Semenyo started as captain before handing it to Kamaldeen Sulemana, then to Gideon Mensah.
Those aren’t just Jenga moves but can be considered as tests. Without his usual leaders, Addo can use these friendlies to probe who among the new guard could be part of the next leadership core.
If he observes how they command respect, handle pressure, and communicate, he’ll be better placed to pick future captains, long before the World Cup begins.
Yes, this trip has looked flawed; poorly scheduled, under-resourced, and marred by injuries. But in adversity lies opportunity. Otto Addo still has a chance to salvage something worthwhile from this exercise. He can at least test his number one keeper, experiment with Yirenkyi in a role he could grow into, and to unearth a future leader.
The Black Star Watch is a compelling weekly column written by Owuraku Ampofo, a seasoned sports journalist with over seven years of experience reporting on Ghanaian players. This column aims to uncover patterns, address pressing questions, and illuminate trending topics surrounding Ghanaian footballers.
