Richard Kingson pleased with Ati-Zigi’s ball-playing ability against Mexico

Black Stars goalkeeper trainer Richard Kingson, has come to the defence of Lawrence Ati-Zigi, disputing claims that the goalkeeper’s performance was subpar in the international friendly against Mexico.

Kingson, who closely observed St Gallen’s Ati-Zigi during the match, said the St Gallen goalkeeper displayed impressive concentration and determination, effectively dealing with some challenging passes.

Ati-Zigi has faced criticism for the goals conceded in Ghana’s 2-0 defeat against Mexico in North Carolina on Saturday. While the team’s overall performance was below par, with no shots on target, many have suggested that Ati-Zigi could have performed better, especially in relation to Hirving Lozano’s opening goal.

Kingson offered his assessment in an interview with 3Sports, stating, “Yes, he did very well, especially in handling very hard and difficult passes. His concentration and determination were very high. We are going back to our training grounds to correct some of the mistakes and improve in the future.”

The 26-year-old became Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper before the 2022 World Cup, featuring in all three group games in Qatar. He has since maintained his position in the team. Jojo Wollacott has been dealing with injury concerns, while deputy captain Richard Ofori is striving to prove himself to coach Chris Hughton.