In the wake of Ghana’s significant 5-0 victory over the Central African Republic, defender Mohammed Salisu provided a frank commentary on the team’s growth, highlighting the knowledge acquired from previous failures, notably their devastating exit from the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

Salisu told 3Sports he liked the team’s second-half effort, pointing out a change in tactics and better attitude. “I think the first half, they were more careful. They tried to stay back,” he said. “The second half, I think they came out more, and we had a lot of space behind them, so we tried to play the ball in behind.”

Salisu emphasized the team’s skill in adjusting and exploiting those opportunities. “The boys did very well because when they pressed, we tried to play the pass in between the lines. I think it was a good game for us.”

However, Salisu’s most impactful words concerned progress and a fresh start. He said the team was remembering past errors, reflecting on Ghana’s AFCON failure: “Even today, up 1-0 at halftime, we recalled what happened against Niger, and not let it happen again.”

According to him, that awareness is a fundamental aspect of the team’s identity. “We always take this as a lesson, and I think everyone has learned a lot from not qualifying for the AFCON.”

His words portray the Ghana team as motivated by its history, not burdened by it. The CAR win demonstrates maturity and quality, which will be crucial for the Black Stars’ World Cup qualification.

Ghana has 22 points and leads Group I, with Comoros as their last match. Winning on Sunday guarantees their 2026 World Cup spot, concluding a remarkable turnaround.

Credit: 3Sports