Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has described qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as an opportunity to restore national pride following Ghana’s failure to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
For the first time in more than two decades, Ghana missed out on Africa’s premier tournament after failing to secure a single victory in the qualifiers.
The disappointment, however, has fueled the senior national team’s determination on the road to the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico next year.
Ghana bolstered its chances with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Central African Republic in Wednesday’s Matchday 9 fixture at the Stade d’Honneur de Meknès in Morocco.
“I took this to heart because I wasn’t happy with how things went at the 2022 World Cup. Missing the AFCON was a huge disaster and disappointment for all of us,” he told 3Sports after the game, which was played at the Stade d’Honneur de Meknès in Morocco.
“We knew this World Cup was our only chance to redeem ourselves, so everyone gave everything.
“I’ve been with the national team for a long time, it’s a part of me, and I knew I had to step up,” he added.
Mohammed Salisu opened the scoring in the first half before Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku, Jordan Ayew, and Kamaldeen Sulemana added goals to seal the emphatic win.
The victory keeps Ghana at the top of Group I with 22 points. The Black Stars will conclude their qualifiers against Comoros on Sunday, October 12, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
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