Accra: Black Stars goalkeeper Benjamin Asare has expressed his dismay over Ghana's heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria, despite being on the bench during the international friendly. The emotional toll of the game was evident in his recent interview.
According to Ghana Web, Asare shared his feelings during an appearance on The Delay Show with host Deloris Frimpong Manso. He emphasized that the loss was deeply felt by him because he considers himself an integral part of the team, regardless of whether he is in the starting lineup or not. "I'm also part of the team; we went out to play for victory for everyone to be happy but it turned out differently," Asare remarked.
Asare further elaborated that witnessing Ghana concede goals was an unsettling experience for him. He noted that the same outcome could have occurred if he had been playing. "I wasn't happy about the fact that my senior goalkeeper was conceding because it could have been me. When the team performs well, I'm happy; when it doesn't, I feel the pain," he stated.
During the match, Lawrence Ati-Zigi was the goalkeeper in action, facing a challenging evening against an assertive Austrian side led by coach Ralf Rangnick. Austria's aggressive tactics and dynamic players like Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic posed significant challenges for the Black Stars throughout the game.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Asare was given the chance to start in Ghana's subsequent match against Germany, where he played a key role in securing a 2-1 victory for the team. His performance in that match has sparked conversation about his increasing importance within the national squad, with fans commending his composure and assured presence in goal.
Asare's journey to the national team began in Ghana's domestic league, where he honed his skills with Great Olympics before transferring to Accra Hearts of Oak. There, he established himself as a prominent figure in the Ghana Premier League, earning recognition and a call-up to the Black Stars.