Otto Addo Declares Benjamin Asare as Ghana's First-Choice Goalkeeper: 'He is Already Number One

Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, has confirmed Benjamin Asare as the Black Stars’ first-choice goalkeeper following a standout performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Hearts of Oak goalkeeper earned the top spot after keeping two consecutive clean sheets in Ghana’s recent qualifying matches.

Asare, 32, received his first national team call-up in March and made an immediate impact. He marked his debut with a flawless performance in Ghana’s dominant 5-0 victory over Chad on March 21 at the Accra Sports Stadium, where he kept a clean sheet. Asare was retained as the starting goalkeeper for the next match against Madagascar, and he again delivered, securing another clean sheet in a 3-0 win. These performances were pivotal in Ghana extending their lead at the top of Group I to 15 points.

After the victory over Madagascar, Otto Addo spoke with 3Sports and officially confirmed Asare’s position as Ghana’s number one goalkeeper. “The next game is in June, and he is already the number one. We made that decision for him. He trained very well. We have a good environment where the goalkeepers push each other,” Addo stated.

While acknowledging Asare’s solid performances, Addo also praised the team’s goalkeeper unit for fostering a supportive and competitive atmosphere. He highlighted the positive contributions of Lawrence Ati Zigi and Joseph Wollacott, who were part of the squad during the qualifiers. “I’m very grateful for the way Ati Zigi and Wollacott have behaved this week. They have supported Benjamin, challenged him, and guided him, which I don’t take for granted. Big credit to them. Asare truly deserved it, and I’m happy for him,” Addo said.

With Ghana’s World Cup qualification campaign back on track, all eyes will be on Asare as he looks to continue his strong form in the upcoming matches. His solid performances have now placed him firmly as the Black Stars’ first-choice goalkeeper, and with the next qualifier set for June, the goalkeeper will have a chance to further cement his place as Ghana’s number one. The competition among the goalkeepers, however, remains healthy, as the team aims to continue their strong performance on the road to the 2026 World Cup.