Former Asante Kotoko SC management member Alhaji Ali Maradona has questioned whether Accra Hearts of Oak SC goalkeeper Benjamin Asare is ready to be Ghana’s first-choice shot-stopper at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Asare has been in outstanding form for Hearts of Oak, producing a man-of-the-match display in the recent Super Clash victory over Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium. The goalkeeper has kept nine clean sheets and conceded only four goals in 12 Ghana Premier League appearances this season, earning widespread praise from supporters and pundits.
However, Maradona, speaking on Asempa FM, argued that excelling in the domestic league does not automatically translate into readiness for football’s biggest stage.
“People praise the Hearts of Oak goalkeeper, but let’s be honest, he is not at the level of the Black Stars. The World Cup isn’t a concert. You need an experienced goalkeeper. He deserved the Man of the Match award against Kotoko, but that is not the World Cup,” he said.
The former Kotoko official clarified that he is not advocating for Asare’s exclusion from the national team entirely, but rather questioning whether he should be Ghana’s number one choice heading into the tournament.
“I am not saying he should not go to the World Cup, but to be number one, Ghana needs an experienced goalkeeper,” he added.
Asare made his Black Stars debut in March 2025 and has since grown into a trusted option under head coach Otto Addo. His rise has been particularly notable, considering he earned his first international cap at the age of 32 after years of consistent domestic performances.
