Wilfred Osei Kweku ‘Palmer,’ a former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member has charged the Black Stars to exert itself greatly in ensuring they annex qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Even though Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), they still have a chance of securing a spot to the global showpiece, which will come off in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
In the World Cup qualifying campaign, Ghana scooped back-to-back wins against Mali and the Central African Republic. The team is set to come up against Chad and Madagascar in the next round of qualifiers next month.
Speaking to Sporty FM, Palmer bemoaned the need for the Black Stars to step up if they really want to book a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
“We need to do a lot to qualify for the 2026 World Cup,” he told Sporty FM. “The technical direction of the team must change.”
He quizzed the tactical prowess of head coach Otto Addo, citing his inexperience.
“Otto Addo is not a technically experienced coach, and we saw that during the AFCON qualifiers. I know he was able to beat Mali in Bamako, but Mali has changed their technical team and has also strengthened their squad. If they come to Accra and get into their element, we will be in serious trouble.”
Despite expressing his concerns, Palmer lauded the appointment of German coach Winfried Schäfer, who has been appointed as the Black Stars’ technical advisor and the GFA’s technical director.
“Winfried Schäfer is a good coach, and we considered bringing him in during our time, but I believe the technical team must change.”
By: Pascal Amoah
