Former Ghana international Augustine Arhinful has called for greater commitment and better squad management in friendly tournaments, insisting the Black Stars’ defeat to Japan in the Kirin Cup could have been avoided with a stronger lineup.
Speaking to 3Sports, Arhinful expressed disappointment that key players such as Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, and Jordan Ayew were unavailable for the match, which Ghana lost 2-0 on Friday in Nagoya.
“We should have spoken to our good players,” he said. “Because if the likes of Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew were in this team, I don’t think we would have lost this game.”
Arhinful argued that friendly tournaments should not be treated as routine fixtures but as meaningful tests that demand the presence of Ghana’s top performers.
“So let’s look at these matches as our AFCON,” he added, “and try in the future to put some prominence to these matches.”
His comments come at a time when head coach Otto Addo is working with a youthful squad as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while several senior players missed the Asian tour due to injuries or club commitments.
The Black Stars are set to face South Korea next as part of their international window schedule.
