Black Queens Coach Nora Hauptle praises outstanding Cynthia Konlan for performance against Japan

Ghana’s women’s national team head coach, Nora Hauptle, has lauded goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan despite the team's 4-0 loss to Japan in a recent international friendly.

The match saw the Black Queens hold Japan to a goalless draw in the first half before conceding four goals in the second half, primarily from set pieces.

In a post-game interview, Hauptle praised Konlan’s performance, emphasizing her crucial saves throughout the match.

Reflecting on Boakye’s dismissal, Hauptle expressed disappointment, highlighting the impact of losing such an experienced defender early in the game.

“We defended with determination, with passion, we closed the centre. I think our keeper was outstanding.

"In the end, we need to acknowledge to play an hour against Japan with 10 players, the quality is higher, so all in all I’m okay about the mentality shown and how we took the challenge.”

The match against Japan, ranked seventh globally, provided a tough but valuable learning experience for the Black Queens as they continue to prepare for future competitions.