Accra: Former Ghanaian defender, Daniel Opare, has spoken out against the intense criticisms aimed at goalkeeper Richard Ofori following a costly mistake during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Ofori's error, which occurred during the final Group B game against Mozambique on January 22, 2024, led to a corner kick that resulted in Mozambique's second goal, ultimately affecting Ghana's performance in the tournament.
According to Ghana Web, Ofori's mistake happened when an opposing player directed the ball from the left side of the penalty box, and Ofori, in an attempt to catch it with his left hand, inadvertently palmed it into his own net. This incident sparked outrage among Ghanaians, leading to widespread criticism of the AmaZulu goalkeeper and his eventual exclusion from future squad selections.
Opare has described the backlash as excessive, emphasizing that errors are an inherent part of football and that Ofori should not have been subjected to such severe criticism. He stated, "Sometimes anybody can have a bad day at the office; it happens. When we look at Richard Ofori, I think we were a little too harsh on him. Mistakes happen, this is football."
Opare further urged Ghanaians to adopt a more forgiving attitude towards players who make mistakes, highlighting Ofori's talent and potential. "But here in Ghana, when mistakes happen, we don't forgive. We should forgive. He has the talent. He can do well. We should encourage him rather than break him," he told 3Sports.