Ghana Holds First Open Training in Qatar... Preparing for Portugal Match

Generally Bright and Relaxed Atmosphere

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ghana, competing in Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar alongside the South Korean national team, held its first open training session in Qatar. On the afternoon of the 21st (local time), the team trained under the guidance of coach Otto Addo at the Aspire Zone training ground in Doha. Ghana arrived in Doha on the 18th, rested the following day, and held their first training session behind closed doors on the afternoon of the 20th.

At the second training session, all twenty-six players, including dual-nationality players I?aki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) and Tariq Lamptey (Brighton), participated and warmed up. After light running and stretching, they practiced passing to coordinate their play. The atmosphere was generally bright and relaxed. A representative from the Ghana Football Association expressed confidence, saying, "They could play even tomorrow."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ghana will play their first group stage match against Portugal at 1 a.m. Korean time on the 25th. They will face South Korea at 10 p.m. on the 28th and Uruguay at 9 a.m. on the 3rd of next month. Ghana is ranked 61st in the FIFA rankings, the only team in Group H ranked lower than South Korea (28th). Key goalkeepers Joe Wollacott (Charlton Athletic) and Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates) were also excluded due to injuries.

However, Ghana is on the rise, having defeated Switzerland 2-0 in a friendly match held on the 17th in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Samuel Kuffour, a former Ghana national team player who played for Bayern Munich in Germany, smiled and said, "You never know the results until the group stage matches begin."

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