Ghana’s unexpected defeat by The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has highlighted weaknesses in the Black Stars’ collective organisation, according to former international Sam Johnson.
Ghana made an encouraging start and scored twice, but were eventually overturned by The Gambia after failing to maintain their early intensity and concentration. The result exposed problems in how the team functioned as a unit throughout the match.
Johnson said the lack of cohesion between the players was one of the main reasons for the disappointing performance. Speaking to Footy-Africa, he pointed to the difficulty of building understanding within a squad made up of players from different generations.
The Black Stars showed positive signs during parts of the match, but their performance lacked consistency. Their inability to sustain the same level of discipline and focus allowed The Gambia to recover and complete the turnaround.
New players still settling in
Ghana are continuing to develop a competitive team while introducing several new players to the senior squad. Their integration remains an important issue as the national side prepares for the next phase of the qualifying campaign.
Johnson believes the players must develop a better understanding of one another on the pitch. Improved communication and greater familiarity between team-mates will be needed if the Black Stars are to become more effective and avoid a repeat of the problems seen against The Gambia.
The defeat also underlined the need for Ghana to address their weaknesses quickly. The next qualifying matches are approaching, leaving limited time for the team to improve its collective stability and consistency.
For Johnson, strengthening the team’s cohesion will be central to its progress. The Black Stars must establish a more reliable structure and maintain their level of performance for longer periods if they are to approach their upcoming games in better condition.
