Former Ghanaian football star Emmanuel Agyemang Badu is optimistic about the Black Stars’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Reflecting on the African draw for the qualifiers, Badu acknowledges that while Group I appears manageable on paper, the journey will not be easy for Ghana.
Having participated in every World Cup since 2006, except for 2018, Ghana aims to secure a spot in the 2026 edition. However, they will face tough opponents in their qualifying group, including Mali, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Comoros, and Chad.
Despite the challenges, Badu believes that Ghana can qualify for the World Cup by adopting the right mindset, approach, and discipline.
Acknowledging that Ghana is no longer a powerhouse in African football, Badu emphasizes the need for the team to accept their position in the pecking order. He highlights that Ghana has struggled against the teams in their group, except for Chad.
“Our World Cup Group is manageable on paper but tricky and dangerous in reality. We have fallen behind in the pecking order. We are no longer a powerhouse in African football. We need to accept that we have struggled against all those teams in the group apart from Chad,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.
To enhance their chances, Badu stresses the importance of players having a good season and sufficient playing time, which will translate into their performance for the national team. He also calls on the coach to create healthy competition within the team to eliminate complacency.
“We must hope for a good season and playing time for our players so that it can translate into their performance for the national team. The Coach must create competition in the team to eliminate complacency.
Discipline is another key factor highlighted by Badu. He emphasizes the need for total discipline within the team and urges the coach not to tolerate any egoistic behavior.
With the right approach and adherence to these principles, Badu is confident that Ghana can qualify for the World Cup.
“He must establish total discipline in the team and not tolerate any egoistic behaviors.” I am sure we can qualify if we do the right things,” he ended.
The qualifying series is scheduled to begin on November 13, 2023.
