President John Dramani Mahama has humorously critiqued the Black Stars, joking that players who cannot sing Ghana’s national anthem should not be selected to represent the country.
Speaking at the Jubilee House, the President reflected on Ghana’s performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and said he was disappointed that many of the players remained silent during the national anthem before matches.
According to him, players from other countries proudly sang their national anthems, demonstrating a strong sense of patriotism and national identity.
“During the World Cup, our players did not sing the national anthem. All the other players sang their national anthem with pride. Ours were quiet,” President Mahama said.
He jokingly suggested that singing the national anthem should become one of the criteria for selection into the national team.
“It should be a qualification for playing for the national team. If you cannot sing the anthem, you cannot be in the team,” he added.
The President’s remarks drew laughter from the audience, as he stressed the importance of national pride and patriotism when representing Ghana on the international stage.
His comments come as discussions continue over the Black Stars’ performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with calls for renewed commitment and a stronger sense of national identity within the team.
Watch the video below:
🎥 🇬🇭 “During the World Cup, our players couldn’t sing the national anthem, while players from other countries sang with pride.
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) July 8, 2026
“If you cannot sing the anthem, you cannot be in the team.”—President Mahama takes a joking swipe at Black Stars players.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/qKpa4XV6pM
READ ALSO:
NSA boss calls for public education on pitch maintenance after viral video criticism
