Otto Addo Names Benjamin Asare as Ghana’s First-Choice Goalkeeper Following Strong World Cup Qualifier Performances
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has officially appointed Benjamin Asare as Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper after his impressive performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Hearts of Oak shot-stopper, who earned his first call-up for these qualifiers, made a significant impact with his stellar displays in recent matches against Chad and Madagascar, keeping clean sheets in both games.
At 32 years old, Asare seized the opportunity to cement his place in the starting lineup, ultimately displacing Lawrence Ati-Zigi as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Speaking to 3Sports after the match, Addo praised Asare’s performances and confirmed his position as Ghana’s number one keeper.
“I think the next game is in June, and he is already the number one. We made that decision for him. He trained very well. We have a good atmosphere where the keepers are pushing each other,” Addo said.
The coach also commended the healthy competition among the goalkeepers, expressing his gratitude to Ati-Zigi and Joseph Wollacott for their professionalism and support towards Asare’s development.
“I’m very grateful for the way Ati-Zigi and Wollacott behaved this week, the way they tried to help Benjamin, guide him, and probe him. I don’t take it for granted. Big credit to them. Asare deserved it, and I’m glad for him,” Addo added.
Asare played a crucial role in Ghana’s dominant 5-0 win over Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium and retained his spot in the 3-0 victory over Madagascar at the Al Hoceima Grand Stadium in Morocco.
With these victories, the Black Stars currently lead Group I and will focus on the next round of qualifiers in September. Ghana will first travel to Chad before hosting Mali for Matchdays 7 and 8 of the campaign.
