Kofi Adams says reaching the knockouts proves Ghana's 2026 run wasn't poor, but AFCON qualifying defeats are fueling the doubters.
Ghana's Sports Minister Kofi Adams has come out swinging for the Black Stars, rejecting claims that the team's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign was a failure. In a television interview, Adams argued that getting out of the group stage cannot be dismissed as a poor showing.
Ghana finished third in a tough group with England, Colombia and Panama, and took four points from the section. They beat Panama, held England to a draw and lost to Colombia. That was enough to reach the knockouts, where Croatia edged them out in a narrow defeat. The Black Stars managed just two goals across their four matches, which is a big part of why critics remain unconvinced.
Adams asked fans to look at the bigger picture. Ghana missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia entirely, then went out in the group stage at Qatar 2022. Making it past the group stage this time, he said, is clear progress and should be recognised as such.
The mood around the team has soured again, though. Ghana have lost their first two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. With four games left, the Black Stars have an uphill task to stay in the race, and the minister's defence of the World Cup run will be tested by what happens next.
