Stars' play an improved game but lose to Mexico

Accra, March 2, GNA - The senior national soccer team, the Black Stars, played an improved game over what they showcased at the African Cup of Nations but lost by a slender 0-1 to Mexico in Dallas, Texas, on the early hours of Thursday.

It was their first international friendly after the 25th MTN Egypt tournament where they were bundled out at the group stages. The Mexicans scored from a second half free header after some sloppy marking at the Ghanaians' rear stretching goalkeeper Owu to his elastic limit.

The Stars' playing without inspirational skipper Stephen Appiah, however, pulled a late equalizer but it was annulled by the referee because a foul had been committed prior to the goal.

Mr O. B. Amoah, a Deputy Minister of Education and Sports in his reaction to the GNA Sports said, "Although we lost, it was a good exercise, for it exposed a lot of new players to the coach."

The team featured new call-ups including UK-based Patrick Agyemang and Alex Tachie-Menson of Germany and back-on-the-fold Otto Addo and Razak Ibrahim.

The deputy minister said all was not lost ahead of the World Cup, "all we need now is a lot more confidence and attack mindedness." He said no matter how we play if we fail to score goals, then "our efforts would come to nothing."

Mr Amoah said it was important that the team played more of such matches "in order to assemble the best for the nation for the World Cup."

Ghana is in the same group with Italy, the Czech Republic and the US for the June 9 to July 9 FIFA tournament.