Ghana’s Black Princesses faced a formidable challenge in their opening match of the 2023 African Games against Ethiopia, acknowledged head coach Yussif Basigi.
Despite securing a narrow 1-0 victory, Basigi admitted in a post-game interview that his team had encountered significant difficulties during the match. The solitary goal came in the second half when Comfort Owusu capitalized on a rebound from Mukarama Abdulai’s shot to secure the win.
The match at the Cape Coast Stadium was not without its share of drama, as a blackout caused a 30-minute delay, highlighting Ghana’s ongoing power issues.
Coach Basigi praised Ethiopia’s resilience, acknowledging their quality as tough opponents.
He stated, “Ethiopia that I know, they are not a bad side so I anticipated that we will have a tough match and I’m not surprised we struggled to beat them.”
Despite securing the victory, Ghana encountered their own challenges, finishing the game with 10 players after Abiba Issah’s dismissal in the 89th minute.
Looking forward, Basigi stressed the importance of adapting for future matches, with Tanzania next on their schedule at the Cape Coast Stadium on Tuesday, March 12.