Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has declined to predict how far the Black Stars will go at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing uncertainty over the team’s direction under new leadership.
Ghana are set to make their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Black Stars have been drawn in a challenging Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, the former U-20 World Cup winner was candid about his reservations.
“For the World Cup, I have to be very frank; I don’t know where we will reach. Let’s see how he will build the team. The kind of players he will bring on board,” Agyemang-Badu said.
He stressed that much will depend on the team’s identity and defensive organisation under the newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz.
“The kind of identity we will have and the kind of defensive setup he will deploy. But from today, it will be very difficult for me to predict whether quarter-finals or semi-finals, whether we are going for the cup or evicted in the group stage.
“It will be very difficult for me,” he added.
Ghana will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17, before taking on England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
Queiroz has been tasked with guiding the Black Stars beyond the group stage, following disappointing exits in 2014 and 2022, as expectations grow for a more competitive showing on football’s biggest stage.
