Italy’s national team coach Marcelo Lippi yesterday watched the Black Stars lose their group D opening game against Nigeria in Port Said but insists that the game did not reflect the true performance of the world cup side.

The Italian coach watched the game from the stands as he prepares his notes ahead of June’s World Cup finals in Germany where his side would be meeting Ghana in the group stages.

Ghana, one of the Africa’s five qualifiers for the world cup are in the same group of with Italy, Czech Republic and the United States.

In a post match interview with the celebrated Italian coach, Lippi stated that the team he saw wasn’t the original Black Stars side.

According to Lippi, Ghana plays entertaining and an attacking football.

“This is not the original Ghana side. They play more attacking than what they played against Nigeria today (yesterday).

“We (Italy) can’t use this game to judge them,” Lippi said.

Injuries forced the Black Stars to enter the African Cup of Nations without three key players.

Chelsea’s Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan are all out of the Ghana team after picking up injuries just some days to the start of the competition.

“Chelsea star Michael Essien and Udinese’s Sulley Muntari’s absence through injury affected the team’s performance in the match,” Lippi added.

Lippi insisted that he will follow Ghana’s coming match against Senegal on Friday before leaving for Italy on Saturday.

Ghana making her debut at the world cup play Italy’s Azzurini in the opening group E game in Hanover on June 12.

“Chelsea star Michael Essien and Udinese’s Sulley Muntari’s absence through injury affected the team’s performance in the match,” Lippi added.

Lippi insisted that he will follow Ghana’s coming match against Senegal on Friday before leaving for Italy on Saturday.

Ghana making her debut at the world cup play Italy’s Azzurini in the opening group E game in Hanover on June 12.