Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has thrown his full support behind the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing optimism that the four-time African champions can exceed expectations and emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
With many pundits tipping Ghana to struggle against heavyweight opposition, Adams remains convinced that the national team possesses the character and determination needed to challenge some of the world’s most established football nations.
The Black Stars secured qualification for what will be their fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament and will compete in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. Ghana’s campaign begins with a clash against Panama before further tests against England and Croatia.
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Addressing congregants at the Philadelphia Church in Ghana, Adams invoked the biblical account of David and Goliath as a source of inspiration for the national team, insisting that rankings and pre-tournament predictions should not define the Black Stars’ ambitions.
“Per the rankings, no one believes Ghana will perform at the World Cup but since we are here, we have come for the symbolic stone David used to bring down Goliath for the Black Stars for the team to conquer all the big guns at the tournament,” he said.
His comments reflect a growing belief within Ghanaian football circles that the team can upset the odds despite entering the competition as underdogs.
The Black Stars have already touched down in the United States, where they are stepping up preparations for the tournament, which gets underway on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Ghana’s World Cup journey dates back to 2006, with subsequent appearances in 2010, 2014 and 2022. Their most memorable run came at the 2010 tournament, when they reached the quarter-finals and came within a penalty shootout of becoming the first African nation to reach the last four of a FIFA World Cup.
