Former Ghana international Augustine Arhinful has raised concerns about the performance of Black Stars goalkeeper Benjamin Asare following Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Wales in an international friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.
The match formed part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with head coach Carlos Queiroz using the game to assess his squad ahead of the tournament in North America.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi started the encounter and delivered a composed performance in a goalless first half, after which Benjamin Asare was introduced following several second-half changes.
Ghana took the lead through Caleb Yirenkyi, but failed to hold on as Wales equalised late in the game through Lewis Koumas after a defensive lapse.
Speaking after the match, Arhinful singled out Asare’s performance for criticism, urging the Hearts of Oak goalkeeper to improve key aspects of his game, particularly his communication and command of the penalty area.
He further noted that Asare has shown vulnerability when dealing with crosses and aerial balls, adding that those weaknesses need urgent improvement as Ghana builds toward the 2026 World Cup.
“Benjamin Asare has to be spoken to. His communication and how he comes out need to improve,” Arhinful told Sporty FM.
“He’s always found wanting when there’s a cross into our box. The question is, could he have done something about the goal Wales scored, considering his positioning?” he added.
Arhinful’s comments are expected to reignite discussions over Ghana’s goalkeeping options ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with competition for places likely to intensify in the final days before the team departs for the tournament.
The Black Stars are scheduled to wrap up their preparations with another friendly against Jamaica on June 10 before travelling to North America for the global showpiece.
Ghana will open their Group L campaign against Panama on June 17, before taking on England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
The four-time African champions will be aiming to make a strong impact at the tournament and advance beyond the group stage for the first time since their memorable run to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
