Unimpressive Black Stars held by Namibia in a Pre-Nations Cup game

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Ghana’s preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) suffered a setback after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Namibia in their final friendly match on Monday.

 

The game played at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, left fans disappointed and questioning the team’s ability to make a deep run in the tournament.

 

Namibia, one of the lowly ranked teams heading to AFCON, managed to frustrate the four-time African champions on their home turf, with the Black Stars struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.

 

The result means Ghana have now won just once in five games under coach Chris Hughton, with defeats to Mexico, USA, and Comoros, and the only win against Madagascar.

 

The 0-0 stalemate against Namibia was particularly concerning for Ghana fans, as it marked the fifth time the team had failed to score under Hughton. The first half was abysmal, with the Black Stars improving slightly after the break but ultimately failing to dominate the contest.

 

Despite some positive changes made by Hughton in the second half, Namibia managed to hold on for a draw, leaving Ghanaians feeling underwhelmed.

 

With the team still struggling to play intense football, concerns are growing ahead of their opening Group B game against Cape Verde on January 14.

 

Black Stars will also play seven-time African champions Egypt in the group stage and then wrap up against Mozambique.

Author

  • My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

    I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

    Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

    Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

    I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

    For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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