Waris’ comments come after the Black Stars’ elimination from the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in their Round of 32 encounter.

Ghana’s hopes of advancing further in the tournament were ended by Jhon Arias, who scored the only goal of the game in the first half to send the four-time African champions out of the competition.

The Black Stars’ campaign came under further scrutiny after head coach Carlos Queiroz, who was appointed on a short-term basis following the departure of Otto Addo, expressed doubts about continuing with the project.

The former Real Madrid manager called for a better working environment and improved conditions around the team, stressing that the right structures must be in place for Ghana to succeed both on and off the field.

Speaking on Joy Prime, Waris backed Queiroz’s concerns and argued that responsibility for Ghana’s football struggles lies with those managing the sport rather than the players.

“Carlos Queiroz has been with the Black Stars for just four months, and he delivered such a heavy statement,” Waris said.

“It’s not about players; it’s about who is in charge,” he added.

Despite their early exit, Ghana’s World Cup performance represented a positive step, with the team reaching the knockout stage for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The Black Stars will now shift their focus to rebuilding efforts and preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they seek to restore their status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.

Ghana, who will be making their fifth appearance at the tournament to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico, have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Mexico.

The Black Stars are hoping to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since their historic run to the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ghana suffered group-stage exits in both the 2014 tournament in Brazil and the 2022 edition in Qatar.

Speaking to Citi Sports, the former FC Porto forward said Ghana possess the quality needed to compete against every team in the group.

“I wouldn’t say that because I think we have a good team to win each of those games,” he said.

“What it comes down to is the preparation and then focusing mentally because at that stage you cannot switch off even for a minute because that can turn everything around,” Waris added.

“What it comes down to is the preparation and then focusing mentally because at that stage you cannot switch off even for a minute because that can turn everything around,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars have commenced preparations in Cardiff ahead of their pre-World Cup friendly against Wales on June 2. Head coach Carlos Queiroz has been supervising training sessions at Dragon Park as the team fine-tunes preparations for the tournament.

Ghana will begin their Group L campaign against Panama at BMO Field on June 17 before taking on England at Gillette Stadium on June 23. The four-time African champions will conclude their group-stage matches against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field on June 27.

For the first time in 20 years, the senior national team will miss out on Africa’s most prestigious football tournament.

Ghana ended their qualification campaign at the bottom of Group F with just three points, managing three draws and three losses in six matches.

This poor showing has sparked widespread criticism, with many fans demanding the overhaul of the technical team led by Otto Addo.

Speaking to Joy Sports, Waris, who previously played a key role for the Black Stars, lamented the team’s dismal performance.

“For a player who has played the national team and knows what it means for the whole of the country to qualify for the AFCON, it is a shame to all of us and I believe something must be done about it,” he said.

He further noted that the full impact of Ghana’s absence will be felt when other nations arrive for the tournament and the celebratory atmosphere unfolds.

“Everyone is hurt but we will not feel it that much now but rather when the countries are arriving for the tournament and with the joy that comes with it, that is when we will feel the pain more for not qualifying.

“We are all not happy with what has happened but we have to look at how we can qualify for the next edition of the AFCON,” he added.

The 2025 AFCON will take place in Morocco next year.

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The former FC Porto striker is an alumnus of the University having joined them on an elite sports scholarship after leaving the Right To Dream Academy in Ghana.

The player then signed a professional contract with BK Hacken in Sweden.

The FC Strasbourg forward after receiving the degree said: “I’m honoured to receive the sports honorary degree from Hartpury college (UK) yesterday.

“Want to say a big thanks to Right To Dream Academy and Hartpury College for their continuous support and also to my family, friends and teammates.”

Waris has a special place in Hartpury College’s history with a special ‘success story’ profile on their website.

He became their first-ever student to feature at a World Cup when he came on for the Black Stars against Portugal in 2014.

Hartpury Director of Football, Tom Radcliffe, said at the time that “it was absolutely fantastic to see a Hartpury student perform on the biggest stage in football and we are all so proud of him. He was exemplary during his time here, showing the hard work and determination that he shows in every match, so this was extremely well deserved.

“This just goes to show the strength of our programme here and I’m confident that Waris will have a big role to play for Ghana in many World Cups and major competitions to come.”