Late Undav Strike Sinks Ghana as Germany Win in Stuttgart
Black Stars endured another frustrating evening as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Germany in an international friendly at Stuttgart’s MHP Arena.
Seeking to halt a run of poor results, Ghana showed glimpses of improvement but were once again undone by costly defensive lapses and missed opportunities at key moments.
The hosts imposed themselves early, with Nick Woltemade and Florian Wirtz both going close inside the opening exchanges. Wirtz, in particular, came within inches of scoring when his free-kick rattled the post, setting the tone for Germany’s attacking intent.
Despite the pressure, Ghana held on until the closing stages of the first half when a VAR decision proved decisive. A handball call against Jonas Adjei Adjetey handed Germany a penalty—his second such concession in as many matches following the defeat to Austria.
Kai Havertz stepped up and converted calmly, giving Germany a deserved lead heading into the break.
Ghana returned with renewed purpose after halftime, showing greater attacking urgency. Prince Adu threatened early on, while Germany continued to test the visitors, striking the woodwork again through Woltemade.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 70th minute, courtesy of Abdul Fatawu Issahaku. Introduced from the bench, the winger made an instant impact with a superb first-time finish that brought Ghana level and briefly shifted momentum in their favour.
However, just as the Black Stars looked capable of salvaging a result, Germany delivered the decisive blow late in the game. Deniz Undav capitalised on a well-timed pass, raced through on goal, and produced a composed finish in the 88th minute to restore the hosts’ advantage.
Ghana pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, with Antoine Semenyo coming close in stoppage time, but his effort flew over the crossbar.
The defeat extends Ghana’s losing streak to four matches, with defensive frailties continuing to raise concern as preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensify. Upcoming friendlies against Mexico and Wales will offer further opportunities to address these issues.
With a challenging group stage ahead featuring England, Croatia, and Panama, the Black Stars must quickly find solutions if they are to compete effectively on the global stage.
