Salim Adams of Ghana during the 2025 International Friendly match between South Africa and Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto 16 December 2025 ©Zamani Makautsi/BackpagePix
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025. 13:10
Kassim Mingle, head coach of Ghana’s Black Galaxies, believes his side showed its quality and received a confidence boost despite losing 1-0 to South Africa at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday.
The two sides met in what was a send-off and warm-up for Bafana Bafana ahead of its participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which begins on Sunday.
The Black Galaxies is made up of Ghanaian players who ply their trade in the local Ghanaian Premier League and is set to begin qualification for the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), which permits countries to only use players from their respective domestic leagues.
Ghana missed out on this year’s CHAN tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda but is determined to qualify for the next edition.
Mingle, whose preparations were hampered by Ghana’s domestic league, was pleased with what he saw from his side, facing off against a nearly full-strength South African team.
“I’m satisfied with their performance. Because it’s a new team that we’re building. A new team to actually take time before their team starts playing. And I will congratulate Bafana Bafana, because if we were to [play] any other team, I bet you we would have beaten them,” said Mingle following the match.
The 68-year-old believes that playing tough opposition will instill confidence in his players as they approach CHAN qualification.
“[South Africa] are one of the contenders of the African tournament. So it’s an exposure to the boys, playing high international profile matches like this. It builds their confidence. So I’ve also got confidence in them.
Some of them, about six key players, couldn’t come. They have injuries, and team commitment too. So I think we’ll be continuing like this, with a strong team. I have confidence we can qualify for the tournament,” he said.
Having only been at the reins of the Black Galaxies for three months, Mingle is building a strong team filled with ambition that seems set to challenge for continental silverware.
By Nic Gleeson
