The Black Stars slipped to a 1–0 defeat against South Korea in an international friendly in Seoul on Tuesday, rounding off their two-match Asian tour without a win and raising fresh questions about the team’s readiness for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
The match, played at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, was cagey in the first half, with both sides struggling to create clear chances. Ghana showed some early promise when Kamaldeen Sulemana worked his way into space on the left, but his effort was comfortably dealt with by the Korean defence. South Korea settled into possession for long stretches, forcing Ghana to defend in numbers while looking for openings on the counter.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 63rd minute. Lee Kang-In delivered a precise cross from the right, and full-back Lee Tae-Seok arrived unmarked at the far post to head the ball past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. The goal came during a spell when Ghana had begun to push more bodies forward, leaving gaps that the hosts exploited with quick transitions.
Ghana nearly struck back moments later. Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante broke free and fired a low shot that beat the goalkeeper but ricocheted off the post. It was the closest Ghana came to an equaliser on a night when their finishing again fell short. The Black Stars also had two goals ruled out for off-side as they chased the game in the final minutes.
South Korea had a chance to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty late in the second half after a Ghanaian defender brought down his marker in the box. Asare, however, produced a strong save to keep the scoreline respectable.
Head coach Otto Addo made several changes from Ghana’s earlier loss to Japan, fielding a blend of experienced players and younger talents such as Christopher Bonsu Baah and Prince Owusu.
But the reshuffled lineup struggled to find rhythm in midfield and often surrendered possession under pressure.
The defeat follows a 2–0 loss to Japan last week, leaving Ghana winless on their Asian tour. While the matches are officially friendlies, the performances have heightened concerns about consistency, creativity in attack and defensive lapses, especially with competitive fixtures looming.
For South Korea, the result provides a confidence boost as they refine their squad ahead of their own qualification schedule.
Their compact defending, discipline in midfield and sharp use of wide areas proved decisive.
Ghana now return home facing pressing questions.
Addo is expected to evaluate his tactical approach, address issues in ball progression and find combinations that offer more threat in the final third.
The tour also offered glimpses of potential from younger squad members, but integrating them effectively into a cohesive team remains an ongoing challenge.
Both the technical team and the playing group will be under increased scrutiny as preparations continue.
The Black Stars resume competitive action in the coming months, and the lessons from Japan and South Korea will shape how they approach the next phase of their build-up.
