Friday’s international friendly against Austria in Vienna, which was supposed to inspire hope in Ghanaians ahead of the 2026 World Cup, ended in a 5-1 obliteration.
Head coach Otto Addo’s team collapsed in the second half, conceding four goals. Here’s how each player is rated out of ten, with ten being the highest a player can score.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi – 4.5
Again, made some of the best saves a goalkeeper could make in a football match but conceded five times. This has become synonymous with the St. Gallen man. He produced an incredible stop to prevent Austria from going 2-0 up before the break and made at least two more incredible saves in the second half. It’s hard to blame him for any of the goals.
Impossible save from Ati Zigi. Shot stopping has never been a problem for him. pic.twitter.com/aVKxGEFkkl
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) March 27, 2026
Caleb Yirenkyi – 2
This game is arguably the worst the Nordsjaelland youngster has played for the Black Stars. His failings as a midfielder playing at right-back came to bear. Not making contact with the ball and letting it go through him handed Austria the second goal, and that probably deflated Ghana completely. The 20-year-old struggled for the entire 70 minutes he was on the pitch.
And his failings as a midfielder playing at right back cost the Black Stars a second. https://t.co/eY7U43F7zw
— Adamu Benin Abdul Karim (@_benin_) March 27, 2026
Derrick Kohn – 2.5
The Union Berlin man certainly didn’t show that he deserves to start for Ghana at the World Cup. He failed to pick out simple passes and couldn’t connect with Semenyo on the left flank. He will be hoping to get a chance against Germany to redeem himself.
Jonas Adjetey – 2
Not playing consistently at Wolfsburg since his January move from Basel certainly showed in this game. The 22-year-old was unaware of his surroundings and gave away the first goal through a penalty at a point when the Black Stars were settling into the game. There was no connection or understanding with Alexander Djiku.
Alexander Djiku – 3
He was the most experienced head in the backline and was expected to provide leadership and guidance, something he can’t say he did. Each player was playing to his own tune, which resulted in disorganisation and many spaces at the back.
Kwasi Sibo – 3
The Oviedo midfielder was supposed to provide cover for the defence and be the destroyer so Partey could help in transitions. It never quite worked out and put Partey in some difficult situations that got him booked.
Thomas Partey – 3.5
Not as sharp and didn’t quite stand out either. The Villarreal man did his best with long balls to pick out his wingers, but it didn’t make much difference. The midfield struggled to connect with the attack all game, seeing Ghana confined to its half for the majority of the match.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – 3
The Leicester winger was not involved as much as he should have been and was indecisive at a crucial moment early in the game, which could have changed a lot if he had gone for goal and converted.
Antoine Semenyo – 3
Misplaced passes. Poor decisions. Firing at Man City but the same old issues for Ghana. He struggled to combine with Kohn as well as the other attackers.
Prince Adu Kwabena – 4
The Viktoria Plzen man showed promising signs with his runs behind the Austria defence and was involved in two such situations, but when it mattered most, he didn’t show strength and went down easily.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi could’ve easily have registered an assist here if Prince Adu Kwabena had showed a bit more strength and pace. He did well but on the two scenarios he was through on goal, he wasn’t strong and fast, and went down easily.pic.twitter.com/XBV908v31P
— Adamu Benin Abdul Karim (@_benin_) March 27, 2026
Jordan Ayew – 5
Scored the team’s only goal, but in the role he was deployed to play as the link between attack and defence, he didn’t execute it well. At crucial moments when he was required to make a run with the ball or find a teammate, he either passed backward or held on to the ball to draw a foul.
Subs
Gideon Mensah – 3
Jerome Opoku – 2.5
Marvin Senaya – 2
The debutant was, alongside Opoku, responsible for the fourth goal as they provided free passage for the ball between them. Senaya was again out of position for the fifth, leaving Opoku running out to cover for him when the cross was delivered for the goal.
We don’t have a lot of options at right back – Otto Addo explains why he keeps playing Caleb Yirenkyi at right back#JoySports pic.twitter.com/VbzZFFm7R1
— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) March 27, 2026
Ibrahim Sulemana – 3.5
He provided the assist for the goal, though it could be said Ayew did most of the work.
Patric Pfeiffer – 3
Ransford Konigsdorffer – 3
Elisha Owusu – N/A
Christopher Bonsu Baah – N/A
Kamaldeen Sulemana – N/A
Coach Otto Addo – 2
Addo cost Ghana the game and didn’t learn anything about his team from this match. Many yearned to see Senaya from the start so they could judge if he is the solution to the right-back problems, but he brought him on after 70 minutes. He can’t be properly judged because there was already a lot of chaos when he came on. Addo’s substitutions took ages to come, and when they did, he destabilised the team with six changes at once.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com