Black Stars continued their winless run in 2024 after being held to a 2-2 draw by Uganda in an international friendly held on Tuesday in Marrakech.
The Black Stars got off to a promising start as defender Jerome Opoku scored his debut goal for Ghana by heading home from a pinpoint cross delivered by Jordan Ayew early in the game. However, Asante Kotoko striker Steven Mukwala levelled the score for Uganda, cancelling out Opoku’s opener.
Ghana regained their lead before halftime when Jordan Ayew calmly converted a penalty kick after Denis Odoi was fouled inside the box, giving the Black Stars a slender advantage heading into the break.
Despite their efforts to hold on for a victory, Ghana conceded a late goal, allowing Uganda to snatch an equaliser and force a draw. This result leaves the Black Stars still searching for their first win of the year.
With six games played in 2024, including the match against Uganda, Ghana’s record stands at four draws and two defeats. The losses came against Cape Verde and Nigeria, while the draws were against Mozambique, Egypt, Uganda, and then Namibia before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where Ghana suffered an unexpected group stage exit.
Head coach Otto Addo, who has returned for a second stint, will undoubtedly be disappointed with the outcomes of the March friendlies, as Ghana failed to secure a victory.
These matches were crucial in the team’s preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic scheduled for June.
Black Stars have three points from two games and need to win their next two games to revive their hopes of qualifying for the tournament to be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.