Black Stars slump to fourth straight defeat after late Germany winner
Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered another setback on Monday night as the Black Stars slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 to Germany in an international friendly in Stuttgart.
Despite showing signs of improvement, Otto Addo’s side were undone late in the game, with Deniz Undav scoring in the 88th minute to hand the hosts victory after Abdul Fatawu had earlier restored parity.
The result extends Ghana’s worrying losing streak, following previous defeats to Austria, South Korea and Japan, and raises fresh concerns about the team’s form and resilience ahead of the global tournament.
Germany dominated the first half and could have taken a commanding lead before the break, but were repeatedly let down by poor finishing. Florian Wirtz struck the post early on, while Jonathan Tah and Nick Woltemade both missed clear chances, and a Wirtz effort was ruled out for offside.
The breakthrough eventually came just before half-time when Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot after Jonas Adjetey was penalised for handball.
Ghana struggled to create openings for much of the contest but showed greater intent after the restart, gradually growing into the game as Germany failed to capitalise on their dominance.
Their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Fatawu calmly finished from close range after connecting with Derrick Kohn’s low cross, bringing the Black Stars level against the run of play.
The equaliser briefly lifted Ghana, but their inability to sustain pressure and close out the game proved costly.
Germany regained control in the closing stages and found the decisive goal through substitute Undav, who finished from close range after a headed assist from Leroy Sané.
The defeat leaves Ghana with four straight losses and defensive frailties still evident, having conceded 10 goals across those matches while struggling to convert chances at the other end.
With the World Cup approaching, the Black Stars face mounting pressure to arrest their poor run and rebuild confidence, as questions continue to grow over their consistency and readiness for the tournament.
