Ghana’s difficult tour of Asia took another painful turn on Tuesday as the Black Stars slipped to a narrow 1 to 0 defeat to South Korea in Busan. The result closed their Kirin Cup campaign without a single win and added fresh urgency to their preparations for next year’s World Cup. It was a game of effort without reward and one that exposed familiar issues in the final third.
Ghana began the match with intent. Otto Addo made several changes to the team that faced Japan, and the early energy was clear. Kamaldeen Sulemana drifted inside and forced a smart save, while Christopher Bonsu Baah pushed the Korean defence with direct runs.
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare stood out as Ghana’s most reliable figure. He produced a series of important saves to keep the match level, including a sharp stop to deny Kwon Hyeok Kyu from close range. His composure gave Ghana a platform to build on as they controlled spells of the first half.
The Black Stars created chances but lacked conviction in the box. Prince Adu and Bonsu Baah sent headers wide, and Brandon Thomas Asante smashed the post with a powerful strike early in the second half. The frustration grew as promising moves failed to produce a breakthrough.
South Korea absorbed the pressure and slowly found their rhythm. Their play down the flanks improved, and the home crowd lifted the tempo of the game. The breakthrough arrived in the sixty third minute when Lee Tae Seok rose highest to guide a cross from Lee Kang In into the bottom corner.
Ghana responded with urgency. Thomas Asante twice went close, Kamaldeen fired wide after linking up with Caleb Yirenkyi, and the Black Stars pushed higher up the pitch. A dramatic moment came in the seventy fourth minute when Korea earned a penalty, but Asare saved Hwang Hee Chan’s effort to keep Ghana alive.
Two Ghana goals were later ruled out for offside, adding another layer of frustration. Korea then slowed the match and won key fouls to break the rhythm of Ghana’s late surge. The final whistle confirmed back to back defeats for the Black Stars in Asia.
The wider implications are clear. Ghana are set for a slide in the FIFA rankings, and the lack of cutting edge in attack remains a major concern. Defensive structure has improved, but the inability to score in open play throughout the tournament raises real questions for the technical team.
Ghana must rebuild confidence, improve fluidity, and find solutions before the competitive fixtures of 2026 World Cup arrive.
