We take responsibility - newcomers need time to understand what it means to play for Ghana - Gideon Mensah

Gideon Mensah has taken responsibility for Ghana's shock 4-2 defeat to The Gambia, admitting luck eluded the team on a difficult night at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana threw away a 2-0 lead through goals from Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan, with Mensah involved in two of the Gambian goals – conceding a penalty with a rash challenge and a poor back pass that gifted Ebrima Colley the visitors' third goal.

Speaking after the game, the left-back said the players must accept the criticism.

"We have to accept that luck wasn't on our side and we probably didn't perform as we were supposed to perform. As a captain today, I feel like I will also take responsibility for everything that happened today," Mensah said.

"We are the players and we're supposed to accept whatever comes from the people that we play for," he added, stressing that "I think also take responsibility for everything that happened on the field today".

Mensah, who captained the side in the absence of several senior players, also pointed to the challenge of integrating many new faces into the team.

"Black Stars defender Gideon Mensah has attributed Ghana's 4-2 defeat to The Gambia partly to the challenge of integrating newcomers into the national team, saying it takes time for new players to understand the responsibility that comes with representing the country".

"We can't hide from the fact that we had so many newcomers in the team," Mensah said. "When we talk about newcomers, it has to do with mentality; it has to do with the understanding that they didn't know about playing for Ghana, wearing the Ghana jersey".

"This is not something that we can switch from overnight. It takes time for new players to learn that playing for Ghana comes with a whole lot," he explained, adding: "You're playing for a country where everybody lives off football, and everybody's happy when Ghana wins the game".

Ghana have now lost two games in a row in Group C after the opening 2-0 defeat to Cote d'Ivoire in Bouake.

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