New Delhi: Germany rode on a later strike from Deniz Undav to score a 2-1 victory in a friendly over Ghana, who promptly sacked coach Otto Addo 72 days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s kickoff.
VfB Stuttgart striker Undav is second on the Bundesliga’s scorers list with 18 goals and bosoted his chances of getting picked in the World Cup squd with a flicked effort into the top corner in the 88th-minute.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann had left Undav on the bench in their 4-3 win over Switzerland on Friday.
“A perfect evening. It was amazing to hear this support from the fans. I came in and scored the goal but what is more important is that we won the game because otherwise it does not mean much,” Undav said.
“I accept my role and maybe if I score more goals like this my role may change, who knows,” he added.
Kai Havertz scored from the penalty spot during the first-half stoppage-time penalty to put Germany deservedly ahead but lacked intensity to score more.
It allowed Ghana to score with their first chance hen substitute Abdul Fatawu tapped in from inside the area after a probing run from Derrick Koehn in the 70th.
“We now have to start analysing our opponents in the World Cup. Now we have time for that and also to keep monitoring our players and take the final decision before the squad announcement in May,” Nagelsmann said.
Germany are in Group E with Ecuador, Curacao and Ivory Coast at the World Cup that will be held etween June 11-July 19.
They begin campaign in Houston on June 14 against Curacao and then travel to Toronto on June 20 to face Ivory Coast before their last group game against
Ecuador in New York on June 25.
Ghana are placed in Group L along with Croatia, England and Panama.
They went down 5-1 in Austria on Friday and after Monday’s loss parted ways with their German-born coach after eight wins and nine losses in 22 matches.
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have parted ways with the Head Coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo effective immediately,” it said in a statement.
Addo was appointed for a second stint in March 2024 but failed to qualify Ghana for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.