The Black Stars goalkeeper, Richard Ofori had lamented the defensive errors that led to the team’s defeat during their first match of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde in Ivory Coast.
The Orlando Pirates shot-stopper earned respect in the 2023 AFCON opening match for his outstanding performance throughout the match though most situations were breathtaking moments for Ghanaians most especially during the first 45 minutes of the match.
In a post-match interview, Richard Ofori attributed the loss to defensive lapses, stating: “The ball was bouncing in front of me and also far away from me, so I needed to punch it wide, and unfortunately, my players were not there to block”.
Despite making crucial saves, the Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde. Ofori is hopeful of a favourable result in their next match against defending champions – Egypt. According to him, the team is determined to learn from the experience and make a strong comeback in the tournament.
“It happens in a game, and we need to focus and concentrate on the second game. That’s the most important thing”, he said.
Ghana’s next fixture is against Egypt on Thursday at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan at 8:00 pm.