World Cup: “Benjamin Asare deserves number one spot” – Ahorlu

Former Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Ahorlu has expressed disagreement with scores of citizens who discredit Benjamin Asare’s qualities ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Asare, who plies his trade with capital club Hearts of Oak, displaced Lawrence At-Zigi from the number one spot and succeeded in guiding Ghana to qualify for their fifth World Cup.

The 33-year-old made his debut in Ghana’s 5-0 win over Chad in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and has gone on to make eight appearances for the four time African champions.

Despite his fine form, there are doubts over his capabilities to face England, Croatia and Panama in Group L at the next mundial in Canada, USA and Mexico but Stephen Ahorlu thinks otherwise.

Benjamin Asare has made eight appearances for Ghana

“For me I don’t agree with them [who say Benjamin Asare is not ready] because it is Benjamin Asare was the one who kept the post during our World Cup qualifiers and he finished well so I don’t agree that he is not ready [for the World Cup],” Stephen Ahorlu told Radio Gold.

Stephen Ahorlu who was a member of Ghana’s squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, believes that Benjamin Asare has gathered enough experience to withstand any form of pressure at the FIFA World Cup.

Stephen Ahorlu believes in Benjamin Asare’s experience so far.

“If you harbor fears as a home based player when called up for senior team duties, then you are not ready to progress because progress starts from national team invite and if you are invited, it means you are doing something right.

“Once you are doing well then you can make it so it doesn’t matter whether you are home based but the moment you harbor fears then you cannot make it.”

Stephen Ahorlu has revealed the qualities technical team members look out for in selecting goalkeepers for major tournaments.

Asare displaced Lawrence Ati-Zigi from number one spot

“You need a goalkeeper who doesn’t concede many goals. We have many goalkeepers who have a lot of luck, his level of communication with his defence keeps the opponent at bay.

“However you can have a goalkeeper who is very good but will always concede and anytime a team concedes many goals, it doesn’t look good for the team [so] if you want to win then you don’t have to concede goals and Benjamin Asare is doing well if you look at some of recent saves.”

Benjamin Asare was the toast of fans, stopping Hwang Hee-Chan’s penalty in Ghana’s 1-0 loss to South Korea in an international friendly at the Seoul World Cup stadium in November last year.

Asare lost his place at Hearts of Oak momentarily but his return in between the sticks has helped shoot the record Ghana FA Cup holders into second place on the league with 39 points same as reigning champions GoldStars, five points behind leaders Medeama SC after 22 games.

The former Great Olympics shot stopper mesmerized the entire technical team members of the Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium as Hearts of Oak pipped sworn rivals Asante Kotoko 1-0 in week 22.

He has made 12 appearances in the current season, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding four times as they chase their first title since the 2020-21 season.