Ghana’s Black Stars were 2-0 winners against the Blue Samurai of Japan in an international friendly played in Tokyo on Wednesday.
The match was to help the two teams assess their strengths and weaknesses ahead of international assignments.
For Japan, it was the 2018 World Cup in Russia while the Black Stars were gauging themselves before the resumption of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
The Black Stars took the lead in the 9th minute through a free kick from Thomas Partey who captained the team on the day.
Japan sought the equaliser but they found no success due to poor finishing and decisive goalkeeping from Richard Ofori in post for Ghana.
In the second half, Ghana found the second from an Emmanuel Boateng penalty. The Levante man was brought down by Japan goalie Eiji Kwashima as he chased a long punt from Richard Ofori.
The victory was the third for Kwesi Appiah in his second stint in charge of the team and he will hope for a similar result when the Black Stars face Iceland in another friendly on June 7.
For Japan, they face Switzerland and Paraguay in two more friendlies before the start of the World Cup campaign. They are in Group H with Senegal, Colombia and Poland.
Japan starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Kawashima; Yoshida, Hasebe (Ideguchi 76′), Makino; Haraguchi (G. Sakai 46′), Oshima, Yamaguchi (Shibakasi 59′) Nagatomo; Honda, Usami (Kagawa 46′); Osako
Ghana starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Ofori; Yiadom, Sumaila (Gyasi 77′), Opoku, Agbenyenu; Sackey (Kasim 71′), Attamah; Ampomah, Partey, Acheampong (Dwamena 64′); Boateng (Wriedt Okyere 82′)
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By: Citi Sports
