Ghana left-back Gideon Mensah has called for a stronger sense of responsibility and collective spirit within the Black Stars following their disappointing 4-2 defeat to The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mensah wore the captain’s armband in the absence of regular leaders Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and Alexander Djiku as Ghana surrendered a two-goal advantage to suffer a damaging home defeat at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Black Stars appeared to be in control after Ernest Nuamah converted from the penalty spot before Felix Afena-Gyan doubled the advantage.

However, The Gambia fought back and scored four unanswered goals to complete a remarkable comeback and leave Ghana without a point from their opening two Group C matches.

The defeat has raised further questions about the team’s rebuilding process under head coach Carlos Queiroz, who has been tasked with developing a new generation of players following the departure of Otto Addo.

For Mensah, however, the challenge extends beyond the technical and individual qualities within the squad.

The FC Koln defender believes Ghana’s players must develop a deeper understanding of what representing the national team demands, insisting that talent alone cannot guarantee success at international level. “There are a whole lot of things to take in the team. I think, as the coach said, there’s a whole team to build together,” Mensah said after the defeat.

Mensah demands more than talent from Black Stars

Mensah acknowledged that Ghana possesses talented players who are willing to represent the country but argued that their responsibilities go beyond simply having the ability to play football.

“Every player in the national team is a good player and talented. Everybody’s showing that they’re eager to play for the national team.But at some point, it goes beyond our talent. It goes beyond getting our fans to come sit down and to play for the national team.”
Gideon Mensah, Black Stars defender

The captain believes the players must develop what he described as an “agency” and “spirit” capable of carrying the team through difficult moments. “Playing for Ghana, like I said earlier, comes with a whole lot. and these are things that we need to learn,” Mensah added.

His comments come after a match in which Ghana’s inability to protect a commanding position ultimately proved costly.

Mensah, who made his Black Stars debut in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in 2019, has experienced several different phases of the national team during his international career.

He was also part of Ghana’s squad at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Black Stars suffered a group-stage elimination.

That experience appears to have informed his emphasis on the mentality and responsibility required when players pull on the national shirt.

“As for talent, as for running, as for playing football, I think everybody’s aware that we do that. But I think there’s some agency and there’s some spirit that we need to build. And when we are coming here to play for Ghana, we have a whole lot to learn.”
Gideon Mensah, Black Stars Defender

Mensah also defended the commitment of the players despite the result, insisting that nobody deliberately avoided responsibility during the defeat.

He stressed that the players must be willing to continue showing up for the national team even when mistakes occur. “Nobody was hiding in the game,” he said. “And we’re going to show that it doesn’t matter what mistake we‘re going to make in the game, we‘re still going to show up for the national team.”

For Mensah, that willingness to take responsibility could become an important part of Ghana’s rebuilding process as Queiroz attempts to shape a team capable of competing consistently and returning to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the last edition in 2026.

The Black Stars now have an opportunity to respond when they face Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.

While the match will not carry competitive points, it will provide Queiroz and his players with another opportunity to address the weaknesses exposed against The Gambia and begin developing the collective spirit Mensah believes Ghana needs.