Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has lauded the quality of the Black Stars after his side fought back to earn a dramatic 1-1 draw against Ghana in an international friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night.
Ghana looked set to secure victory after substitute Caleb Yirenkyi scored his first goal for the national team in the 66th minute. However, Lewis Koumas struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a draw for the hosts.
Speaking after the match, Bellamy acknowledged the strength of the Ghanaian side, highlighting the challenge posed by a team preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Ghana has a lot of quality players and is getting ready for the World Cup,” Bellamy said.
The Wales manager noted that his team faced a technically gifted and physically imposing opponent, particularly praising the Black Stars’ attacking threat throughout the encounter.
After weathering early pressure from Wales, Ghana gradually took control of the game and looked the more dangerous side for large periods of the second half.
Ernest Nuamah consistently troubled the Welsh defense with his pace and creativity, while Yirenkyi made an immediate impact from the bench by scoring the opening goal.
Bellamy admitted that facing a side of Ghana’s caliber provided a valuable test for his players as they continue their own preparations for future competitions.
“It was a very good challenge, and I’m really pleased with what I saw,” he said, reflecting on the contest against the four-time African champions.
The former Wales captain also felt his side deserved something from the game despite Ghana’s impressive performance.
“I never enjoy losing matches and, naturally, I would have preferred to win. Ghana is a very good team, but we created chances of our own, and I don’t think we would have deserved to lose,” he added.
For Bellamy, the fixture offered an opportunity to assess his squad against top-level international opposition and gauge the progress his team has made.
He believes the encounter provided important lessons and valuable experience to several players who featured in the match.
Although Wales needed a late goal to avoid defeat, Bellamy’s post-match remarks underlined the respect he has for the Black Stars and their prospects ahead of the World Cup, where Ghana will take on Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L.
