Otto Addo, the head coach of Ghana’s national men’s football team, attributed his team’s 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the 2025 Unity Cup to the opponent’s greater maturity.
Speaking at a post-game press conference, Addo noted that Ghana’s performance improved in the second half, but Nigeria’s experience and maturity ultimately gave them the edge.
“We had problems getting into the duels to press well and defend well,” Addo said, acknowledging the challenges faced by his team, which was without several established players, including Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, and Antoine Semenyo. “I think Nigeria had a more matured team who could adapt faster.”
Despite the loss, Addo expressed satisfaction with the performance of some young players, who provided valuable answers about their abilities. “The young players did really well,” he said. “They are still learning, trying to improve. We’ve gotten a whole lot of answers from our coaching staff.”
Nigeria’s win sets up a final match against Jamaica, who defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 in the first semifinal fixture.
Ghana on the flip side of things has to battle Trinidad and Tobago for a third place slot.
The Unity Cup final promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams that have demonstrated their skills in the tournament.
