President John Dramani Mahama has praised the Black Stars for their performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the team’s campaign as one that exceeded expectations.
Ghana’s journey at the global tournament ended at the Round of 32 stage after a competitive outing that saw the four-time African champions reach the knockout phase for the first time since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The Black Stars opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Panama before securing a hard-fought goalless draw against European giants England.
However, Ghana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group C match before exiting the tournament following a painful 1-0 loss to Colombia in the knockout stage.
Despite the early elimination, President Mahama commended the team’s resilience, determination and overall performance throughout the tournament.
“The Black Stars performed admirably at the recent tournament despite many predictions that they would not progress beyond the group stage,” he said.
“They exceeded expectations by advancing to the Round of 32, demonstrating determination, resilience and the quality that exists within the team,” he added.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign had been surrounded by uncertainty before the tournament, with concerns about the team’s readiness to compete against some of the world’s best sides.
However, their performances against established opponents helped restore confidence among supporters and highlighted the potential within the squad.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they seek to rebuild and compete for continental honours.
Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia, with the qualification campaign scheduled to begin in September.
