Head coach of the senior national football team of Ghana, Otto Addo, revealed why he made a surprise call in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chad.
The gaffer, to some, made a not-so-surprising decision to start Hearts of Oak captain and goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare, in a crucial game against bottom-placed Chad.
Asare, who moved to Hearts of Oak’s city rivals Accra Great Olympics in 2024, was called up to the first Black Stars squad of 2025 ahead of a host of other goalkeepers.
There had been discussions on who to start in goal for Ghana, with some football pundits and enthusiasts opting for Asare, while others were concerned about his experience.
Former Black Stars goalkeeper, George Owu, shared this week on the Sports Pack show on Max FM about Asare being a risk with his little to no experience at the international level despite having kept post for the local Black Stars.
Addressing questions on his decisions to select the Phobian captain, Otto Addo explained, saying, “We assessed all our goalkeepers and watched several games. It was a close call, but Benjamin stood out in training.”
Asare, who confessed he once considered quitting the sport during a stagnant period in his career, has kept 12 clean sheets so far in the 19 games he has played for Rainbow club.
He becomes the first Hearts of Oak goalkeeper to have started for the Black Stars in nearly two decades since the much-loved Sammy Adjei.
