Ghana central defender, Jonathan Mensah believes Algeria gave the Black Stars a good test ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON].

The West African country played the North African side in a friendly at the Educational Stadium n Doha on Wednesday.

The Black Stars lost 3-0 to the reigning African champions with Mensah scoring an own goal in the process.

However, the Columbus Crew defender believes the friendly game was a good test for the team.

“We played against a good side and it was a good test for us. Individually, it was good for me because I didn’t do well so I know where I should do well next time,” Mensah told TV3.

“The team looks good. Even though we lost the game, it was a good lesson for us. Playing against the defending champions and they will always give you a good test.

“So, we know what to do and, of course, the competition starts for us on the 10th of this month and we’re going to do our best to win the first game.”

Mensah will appear at the Afcon for the seventh time in a row, and he is one of the more experienced players on a team dominated by a large number of newbies. Up to 17 players who make up Milovan Rajevac’s 28-man squad will experience Afcon for the first time.

“We have gone to previous tournaments with young, experienced players. We had all the elements and then we couldn’t go as far as the final,” Mensah said.

“It is always this way. Whenever we are going for a tournament, there’s always someone going for the first, second, or even fourth time, but when the tournament starts, you see how things go.”

He added, “Regardless of people’s opinions, we just have to go there and perform well.”

Ghana will hope to hit the ground running when they take on Morocco on January 10 in Yaounde. The Black Stars are on a quest to end the country’s 40 years AFCON trophy drought.