Five biggest winners from Ghana’s latest International window

Eight goals in two games is no fluke. The Black Stars are getting back to their fluid best, and Ghanians are thrilled.

Mohammed Kudus capped off a lovely team performance in March’s international window by scoring his first goal since January 2024 against Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The beauty of March’s international window is that: players have rediscovered their touch; what it truly means to score and represent Ghana on the international stage.

Don’t get me wrong, though. Ghana struggled considerably against similar opposition in 2024 but in their first two games in 2025, they’ve equalled their win tally from last year.

That by no means is a flash in the pan. It’s a testament of dedication, application, effective planning and balance.

A lot went into the two games Ghana played, so much so that the players did not make a meal out of playing a game less than 72 hours from the last.

Just a light cool down session was needed to put Madagascar to the sword.

There’s been a copious amount of thrill when talking about the Black Stars over these past two games, with praises being showered across board.

Technical team members have gotten a fair share of it, same as the playing body but which people really came out tops in Ghana’s revival journey?

3Sports takes a look at the biggest hitters in March’s World Cup qualifiers

 

Otto Addo

None better to start the list than Black Stars coach, Otto Addo.

“I’ll not say I’m an expert in this or that,” Otto Addo benignly said in the lead-up to the games when asked if he’s an ace in World Cup qualifiers.

But i will say it. Maybe an unpopular opinion among the masses, but Otto is a World Cup qualifying expert, per the numbers.

After six World Cup qualifying games in charge across his two stints, the 49-year-old is yet to lose a game, winning four and drawing two.

He has an impressive 66.6% win rate in World Cup qualifiers, which is in stark contrast to his lowly numbers in all other competitions.

He once again worked his magic in Morocco, master-minding a 3-0 win.

The Black Stars tweaked their style tactically and showed that they could adjust to different styles while implementing varying tactics in both games.

A 4-1-4-1 system was implemented against Chad, whereas a 3-5-2 was in use on Monday night.

Otto is showing tactical flexibility, and his decision to stick with Benjamin Asare was another high point, which was well received by a greater number of fans following the Hearts of Oak goalkeeper’s debut.

Although the Black Stars are starting to find their rhythm, it will be difficult for Otto to win fans over in such a short time – he has a long way to go after last year’s horror show.

 

Jordan Ayew

Leadership comes with responsibility, and to that end, Jordan Ayew has understood and performed his task aptly.

“It was written in the stars,” Jordan told Joy Sports after embracing his new role as Black Stars captain.

It may have been written in the stars, but his performances in the World Cup qualifiers have gone against the grain.

Five goals and four assists in six games ! That’s a staggering nine goal-involvements in that time.

That’s a mark of a leader, drowning out all the noise, turning denigrators into believers.

The Ayew’s have a long-standing connection with Ghana football, spanning generations.

Abedi Pele, Jordan’s father, brisked past defenders with flair and skill in the 90s.

Jordan’s brother, Andre Ayew, left his imprint with Ghana’s U20 side and has been crucial for the Black Stars for more than a decade.

The mandate is now on Jordan and what he wants to do with this young-talented team.

He’s so far shown he’s up to the task.

Very taciturn in all he does, but these performances are genuinely sending waves across the African continent – literally screaming.

 

Benjamin Asare

The commentator in Ghana’s game against Madagascar could not stop speaking about “Asari,” as he called him.

He was swooning over the 32-year-old. The refrain was: He has conceded fewer goals in the Ghana Premier League than the number of games he has played in.

Asare is Hearts of Oak and Hearts of Oak is Asare, it’s that simple.

As it stands, Hearts can not do without him, as the results (winless in their last two games) in his absence have shown.

But how did Hearts of Oak’s great city rivals, Great Olympics, produce a legend in the  making for the Phobians?

One of those rarities that is best spoken about later, but Benjamin Asare was a special performer in these games.

Picking up from where he left off in the Ghana Premier League, where he has kept 12 cleansheets in 19 games, Asare shut out Chad and Madagascar.

It’s incredible to think he has kept two cleansheets in his debut Black Stars call-up.

You’ll have to go revisit the last time the Black Stars kept two consecutive clean sheets, September & November 2022, to understand how impressive this is but Asare did it with relative ease.

Although there are talks of: “He was not tested as much,” you can only deal with what is in front of you.

He can only be in post and smother the efforts on target or threatening his goal area.

He made a brilliant save down low to his right to deny Madagascar in the second half.

He looked a bit jittery when coming out to claim crosses against Chad but it was better against Madagascar, albeit his other fraility was exposed – kicking out from the back and using his feet.

He’s not made to play a sweeper keeper role in Hearts so it’s understandable why most of his balls were ballooned into touch when trying to find Semenyo or any of Ghana’s forwards.

None of the aforementioned are excuses. Asare will know more than anyone else he has to work on his weaknesses while he basks in his moment.

Because, who have thought Asare would move from a horrific leg break injury years ago to genuinely battle for Ghana’s number 1 spot.

Otto Addo mentioned Asare as Ghana’s first choice option as it stands. The onus lies on him to be at the best possible level he can for the remainder of the season.

 

Ernest Nuamah

Direct, sharp, nimble footed and fast. Let’s work with these adjectives as we talk about Ernest Nuamah.

Deployed in a central role against Chad, Nuamah operated in half spaces, fell deep in Ghana’s half, picked up the ball and distrubuted effectively.

Yes, he plays for Lyon but he is not Essien!

He is Ernest Nuamah, a tricky winger.

What he did against Chad on Friday taught Ghanaiams that he has more than what a winger can offer and he is ever-willing to adjust his position if the need arises.

He fitted in seamlessly against Chad. At times, he popped up in wide positions, the right wing especially.

But he was readily available on the overlap, available for balls in-behind, and flicks around the corner.

If there was anyone who deserved to get something close to a perfect score against Chad, then it was him – Ernest Nuamah.

There were no real deficiencies to his game. He looked lively, dangerous and looked to have a goal in him anytime he attacked.

He was rewarded for his persistent probing with a goal.

Lyon will be rubbing their fingers because Nuanah built a lot of steam during the international break – which will be useful in next month’s Europa League tie against Manchester United and boost their odds of securing a Champions League spot.

Nuamah basically built on his free-scoring spree [ his audacious goals come to mind] before the international break.

With Manchester United in the wings, Nuamah’s play will boost his confidence.

 

Gregory De Grauwe

“Pigaro 1, Pigaro 2. Pigaro 3, Pigaro 4.” You’re enjoying it and might probably up going on and on.

That was how much Otto Addo enjoyed what Gregory did for him. Ghanaians may not know much about him, nor his works. If they did, they’ll be singing ‘Asem’s’ Pigaro, when trying to pronounce his name.

But in the larger context, Gregory did the trick for Ghana.

Spotted with Arteta before the international break, Otto Addo was beaming with a smile, that was indicative of ‘ I know what to do,’ as he visited Thomas Partey.

It’s no longer under wraps anymore. What Otto and Arteta discussed is now an open secret.

Arteta may have emphasised the importance of set pieces to Otto, for obvious reasons – no team has profited from set pieces more than Arsenal, especially corner kicks, in the ongoing season.

A first-hand application from Ghana was seen against Chad on Friday.

Scoring from a header was Salisu against Chad before two more followed by, your guess is good as mine, Arsenal’s Thomas Partey on Monday night.

An Arsenal man at the end of a set piece, that could only be Arteta and Nicola Jover, Arsenal’s set piece coach’s doings.

Gregory is Ghana’s own Nicolas Jover. Brought in as part of a technical restructuring, the video analyst, together with Techhival advisor Winfred Schaefer, have been discoveries.

He has so far performed his role, identifying gaps in defences and capitalising on them, to the maximum.

The result of these have been Ghana scoring five times – if you’ll count Inaki’s effort against Chad – from set pieces this international window.

The post Five biggest winners from Ghana’s latest International window first appeared on 3News.

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