Japan forward Takumi Minamino has praised teammate Kaishu Sano for his decisive contribution after scoring the opener in the Samurai Blue’s 2-0 victory over Ghana in the Kirin Challenge Cup on Friday.
The AS Monaco attacker struck in the 16th minute at the Toyota Stadium, finishing off a sweeping Japanese move that began with Sano winning possession in midfield.
The Mainz midfielder drove forward intelligently before threading a perfectly weighted pass across the box for Minamino, who calmly guided the ball beyond the Ghanaian goalkeeper to give Japan the early lead.
Speaking in a flash interview after the match, Minamino admitted that opening the scoring was crucial against a Ghana side known for its physicality and explosiveness.
“I wanted to score the opening goal, and Kaishu gave me a good pass, so I’m glad I was able to score,” he said.
“Before the game, we focused on winning our duels and keeping the intensity high so we could overwhelm them from the start.”
Japan’s dominance continued into the second half as Ritsu Doan sealed the win in the 60th minute with a powerful left-footed strike at the near post.
The match highlighted key areas requiring improvement for Ghana ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars struggled to contain Japan’s swift transitions and found it difficult to retain possession under pressure.
Despite the defeat, the fixture provided valuable lessons for Otto Addo’s side as they prepare for upcoming competitive engagements.
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