Otto Addo highlights value of minutes for Ghanaâ??s young players despite defeat to Japan 

Despite Ghana’s loss to Japan in Niigata on Friday, head coach Otto Addo expressed satisfaction with the exposure gained by the younger members of his squad, describing the match as an important learning opportunity.

With several regular starters unavailable, Addo used the friendly to test emerging talents and fringe players vying for future call-ups. The Black Stars boss believes the experience will accelerate their development.

“We used our young players, and they did their best,” Addo said. “It didn’t translate into results today, but these minutes are very important for their growth. Games against strong teams like Japan teach them a lot.”

Addo praised the commitment and bravery shown by the youngsters, even in difficult moments, and insisted the technical team will continue to integrate promising players into the senior setup.

“For some of them, this is their first time facing such intensity at international level. These experiences help us build depth and prepare them for future competitions,” he added.

While the defeat was disappointing, Addo’s focus on long-term development suggests Ghana’s rebuilding process remains well on course as the team looks ahead to major tournaments.

Goals from Takumi Minamino in the first half and Ritsu Doan in the second half ensured the Samurai Blue claimed a 2-0 victory in the Kirin Cup Challenge.

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