Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton, says he wanted to have a defensive player on the pitch playing alongside Majeed Ashimeru as his reason for not playing Richmond Lamptey in a friendly game against Namibia.
Ghana drew goalless with Namibia in a friendly tie ahead of the 2023 AFCON with both nations set to compete in the continental tournament that commences on Saturday, January 13 in Cote D’Ivoire. (Click highlighted text to read full story)
The Black Stars struggled to break down the Southern African nation and fans at the Baba Yara Stadium clamoured for the introduction of Kumasi Asante Kotoko midfielder and captain Richmond Lamptey.
However, Lamptey missed out on what would have been his debut game for the Black Stars and Hughton said in a post game interview that the presence of Majeed Ashimeru warranted the presence of a defensive midfielder alongside the Anderlecht player.
“We are delighted to have him in the squad but I have to make these decisions the same decisions I have to make with Dede Ayew coming in or Majeed Ashimeru the timing that he comes and what effects they can have on the game.”
“The fact I brought Ashimeru on, the time that I brought him on, I wanted perhaps a more defensive player to stay on the pitch just to give us that balance because I knew I would be changing the front two and I knew I would be changing the two wing players.”
Ghana leaves for Cote D’Ivoire on Wednesday, January 10.