By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Germany edged Ghana 2-1 in a tense international friendly in Stuttgart on Monday night, with substitute Deniz Undav netting a dramatic 88th-minute winner to seal victory after a hard-fought contest.
The hosts looked to be heading for a frustrating draw after Ghana’s second-half resurgence, but Undav’s late intervention ensured Germany closed their March international window on a winning note.
Germany had earlier taken the lead on the stroke of halftime when Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time (45+3’), giving Julian Nagelsmann’s side a deserved advantage after controlling much of the first half.
However, Ghana responded with renewed intensity after the break and were rewarded in the 70th minute. Substitute Abdul Fatawu Issahaku finished off a swift attacking move to restore parity, exposing lapses in the German defence.
With momentum swinging and both sides making multiple changes, the match appeared destined for a draw until late drama unfolded. Undav, introduced earlier in the second half, capitalised on a well-worked move to slot home in the 88th minute, sending the home crowd into celebration and underlining his growing importance ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The result continues a difficult run for Ghana, who have now suffered a string of defeats in recent outings, including losses to Japan, South Korea, South Africa and a heavy 5-1 defeat against Austria in the build-up to this fixture. ([Bavarian Football Works][4])
For Germany, the victory maintains momentum as Nagelsmann assesses his squad ahead of the World Cup, while Ghana are left searching for answers after another narrow but ultimately costly defeat.
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