Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has outlined the strategy behind Ghana’s resurgence and easy qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-times African Champions after enduring a difficult period of not qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, made sure they secured ticket to the Mundial. The failure on the part of Ghana had a setback that led to widespread frustration and fan boycotts.
However, a turnaround followed under Hon. Kofi Adams when he resumed as Minister in charge of Sports. Efforts from the Ministry handed he Black Stars five wins and a draw for qualification to FIFA World Cup 2026.
Reflecting on the revival in an interview with Graphic Sports, the Member of Parliament huge factors and strategies were laid to path way.
“There were a lot of people who gave up on Black Stars,” he said.
“But through a certain strategic pull-up, we have been able to play six matches, won five and drawn one, and that made it possible for us to qualify.”
He attributed the turnaround to a coordinated effort involving key stakeholders, including backing from the Presidency and renewed fan support, with supporters turning up in large numbers at the Accra Sports Stadium and moving away from offering winning bonuses to players and officials.
“We started first by letting them know that we’re not going to pay them winning bonuses as it used to be… we want them to manage the team to make sure that we qualify,” he stated.
Ghana finished top of their qualifying group and will now face Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The four-times African Champions after enduring a difficult period of not qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, made sure they secured ticket to the Mundial. The failure on the part of Ghana had a setback that led to widespread frustration and fan boycotts.
However, a turnaround followed under Hon. Kofi Adams when he resumed as Minister in charge of Sports. Efforts from the Ministry handed he Black Stars five wins and a draw for qualification to FIFA World Cup 2026.
Reflecting on the revival in an interview with Graphic Sports, the Member of Parliament huge factors and strategies were laid to path way.
“There were a lot of people who gave up on Black Stars,” he said.
“But through a certain strategic pull-up, we have been able to play six matches, won five and drawn one, and that made it possible for us to qualify.”
He attributed the turnaround to a coordinated effort involving key stakeholders, including backing from the Presidency and renewed fan support, with supporters turning up in large numbers at the Accra Sports Stadium and moving away from offering winning bonuses to players and officials.
“We started first by letting them know that we’re not going to pay them winning bonuses as it used to be… we want them to manage the team to make sure that we qualify,” he stated.
Ghana finished top of their qualifying group and will now face Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
