Veteran football coach Joseph Emmanuel Sarpong has argued that Benjamin Asare has yet to demonstrate the level of a top goalkeeper like Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Jojo Wollacott.
Speaking with Emmanuel Enin on GhanaWeb Sports Check, JE Sarpong stated that Asare was not truly tested in his first two games for the Black Stars.
He mentioned that Asare had a relatively easy experience in his debut matches compared to Ati-Zigi and Wollacott.
“The pressure Ati-Zigi and Wollacott faced while keeping goal for Ghana, Asare didn’t experience that. There was no pressure on him. Sometimes, when he was idle, they would pass the ball back to him. We are yet to see his real quality. When we face top-class players who take long shots, put pressure on the defence, and attempt unexpected strikes, and Asare is able to respond to those, then we can say he is at that level,” he said.
He reiterated that Ghanaians will truly assess Asare’s capabilities when the Black Stars face stronger attacking teams in future matches.
“Right now, it’s a gradual process. He is not yet at that level, but we will see what happens in the next games.”
JE Sarpong, however, praised the Hearts of Oak goalkeeper for his defensive organization in his debut appearance.
“Against Madagascar, the defence was well-organized, backed by the goalkeeper, who was not truly tested. Because if you say a goalkeeper is useless, what does that say about the defence? They were the shield that protected him. I’m happy Benjamin wasn’t hesitant to communicate with Djiku and the other defenders.”
Benjamin Asare is currently the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for the Black Stars following his impressive debut with the national team in March 2024.
He kept two clean sheets in two games against Chad and Madagascar during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, earning the trust of head coach Otto Addo, who named him as his first-choice goalkeeper.
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