Ghana and Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante has shared his mixed emotions after scoring his debut goal for the Black Stars in their 2-1 defeat to Nigeria in the Unity Cup semifinal at the GTech Community Stadium in London.

The 26-year-old came off the bench to replace Kwame Opoku in the second half and found the back of the net in the 70th minute, capping off a swift team move with a close-range finish. The goal was his first for the Black Stars, coming in just his second international appearance after debuting in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in June 2024.

Speaking after the match, Thomas-Asante admitted the result was a tough one to take, especially given the significance of the fixture.

“On the whole, it was a bit frustrating. This is a big game for us. We know we can win against this team, so it’s frustrating in that sense," he said. "But I’m happy to make my start and score a goal for Ghana, which I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

Despite the defeat, Thomas-Asante cherished the opportunity to play in front of a lively crowd and promised better days ahead for the team.
“It’s amazing to play in front of the fans. It shows what football is all about. Even though half of the fans are for you and half are against, it’s still amazing. We want to see more days like this, and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.”

Ghana will now face Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place playoff, while Nigeria advance to meet Jamaica in the Unity Cup final.