Ghana coach Chris Hughton admitted the subpar first-half performance but expressed satisfaction with the team’s 1-0 victory over Madagascar in Kumasi on Friday, marking the commencement of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Inaki Williams, who switched from Spain last year in June, secured the slender win with his first goal for Ghana.
Hughton commented after the match, stating, “The first-half performance needs improvement, but the second-half performance was better.” Despite the less-than-ideal start, Williams’ close-range header provided a winning beginning and gave the fans a reason to celebrate.
Looking ahead to the next game against Comoros in Moroni, Hughton emphasised the importance of the win, saying, “The importance of the win is massive. We would have loved to have done it more comfortably in the first half, but that’s football. All you look is to get some momentum from this. We all hope that the momentum from the second half will be taken into Comoros.”
The Black Stars aim to top the group, which also includes Mali, Chad, and the Central African Republic, to secure qualification for the World Cup hosted by USA, Mexico, and Canada. The focus now is on maintaining momentum and delivering a strong performance in the upcoming matches.