Accra, June 2, GNA-Black Stars’ defender, Gideon Mensah, says it was a big step for the team after thumping Madagascar 3-0 in the opening fixture of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The 23-year-old, who plays for Bordeaux FC in the French League 1, believes the team’s emphatic victory would motivate them in future matches.
Mensah admitted in a post-game press conference that Ghana was the favourite over Madagascar’s Barea, adding that the team’s expectations were high.
He said, “We were the favourites and much was expected of us. It felt great to win by such a large margin, and this is a significant step forward for us”.
The last time Ghana won a game was against South Africa in a World Cup qualifier, which the Black Stars won 1-0 in Cape Coast last year.
The win over Madagascar sees Otto Addo’s charges sit at the summit of Group E in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, ahead of Angola on goal difference after they beat the Central African Republic 2-1, with Madagascar at the bottom.
The Black Stars would travel to face the Central African Republic in four days’ time, while Madagascar hosts Angola in the other group game.
GNA