Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, has admitted that Japan would remain favourites against the Black Stars even if Ghana had all their top players available for the upcoming international friendly.
Speaking to Sporty FM, Asante Twum praised the quality and organisation of Japan’s national team, describing the Asian giants as one of the most technically advanced sides in world football.
“Even if we had all our best players here, Japan would still definitely start as favourites against the Black Stars,” he said. “The Blue Samurai is a very good team with a good coach.”
Ghana will face Japan on Friday, November 14, as part of their Asia tour, which also includes a friendly against South Korea four days later. The matches form part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Several key Black Stars players, including Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey, were left out of the squad due to injuries and club commitments.
Despite acknowledging Japan’s strength, Asante Twum believes the friendlies offer a valuable opportunity for Otto Addo to assess his squad depth and tactical flexibility ahead of the World Cup.
“These are the kinds of games we need to help our team grow,” he added. “It’s about testing our systems, giving new players the chance to prove themselves, and learning from top footballing nations.”
Ghana’s clash with Japan will be played at the Toyota Stadium in Nagoya.
