Ghana’s surprise defeat by Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has exposed shortcomings in the Black Stars’ collective organisation, according to former international Sam Johnson.
The Black Stars made a strong start and scored twice, but were eventually overturned by Gambia. Their collapse highlighted difficulties in maintaining intensity, concentration and structure throughout the match.
Johnson believes a lack of cohesion between the players was a significant factor in the disappointing result. Speaking to Footy-Africa, he said Ghana must develop a better understanding between its players if the team is to become more effective.
New players face integration challenge
Ghana showed encouraging signs during parts of the match, but were unable to sustain the same level of performance for the full game.
The national side are still working to build a competitive team that brings together players from different generations. The arrival of new members has made integration an important issue for the Black Stars.
Johnson says the players need time and work on the training ground to understand each other more effectively in competitive matches. Better communication and greater unity will be needed if Ghana are to avoid a repeat of the problems exposed against Gambia.
Ghana must respond quickly
The defeat has increased the pressure on Ghana to address its weaknesses before the next stage of the qualifiers. The Black Stars will need to show greater consistency and collective stability as the campaign continues.
For Johnson, improving the team’s cohesion will be central to its progress. Ghana must now work on combining its different generations of players and establish a more reliable structure ahead of its next fixtures.