German goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn has praised Ghana’s performance against England at the FIFA World Cup, describing the Black Stars as a team capable of going far in the tournament.
The former Bayern Munich and Germany captain was impressed by Ghana’s discipline, defensive organisation and intensity throughout the contest, noting that Carlos Queiroz’s side remained competitive from the opening whistle to the final minute.
According to Kahn, the Black Stars demonstrated why they should not be underestimated despite entering the tournament with relatively modest expectations.
“After watching this Ghanaian side from the beginning of the game till the end, I learned that they’re not a team to joke with. Even with low-block defending, they still look sharp and press,” Kahn said.
The 2002 World Cup Golden Ball winner admitted he initially expected England to take control of the match after the break but was impressed by Ghana’s resilience and tactical discipline.
“With such a performance they can go further in the competition. Even in the first half, I thought England would win it all in the second half, but football isn’t judged off the pitch, it’s judged by performances on the pitch,” he added.
Kahn also highlighted Ghana’s ability to remain solid despite missing key players through injury, describing the team’s defensive display as one of the most encouraging aspects of the performance.
The Black Stars were without influential duo Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu, yet still managed to produce a composed display while keeping a clean sheet.
“Even with Salisu and Kudus not involved due to injury, they still looked strong. That’s something massive to talk about, especially with zero goals conceded,” Kahn noted.
Ghana’s performance has strengthened belief that the four-time African champions can challenge for a place in the knockout stages as they continue their World Cup campaign.
With confidence growing within the squad and praise arriving from some of football’s biggest names, the Black Stars will now look to build on their encouraging display in their remaining Group L fixtures.