Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has admitted uncertainty over how far the Ghana national football team can go at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing that the team’s progress will largely depend on resolving persistent defensive problems.
Speaking on Sporty FM’s Sporty Drive, the ex-Udinese midfielder was frank in his assessment of the Black Stars’ recent struggles, highlighting the backline as the team’s biggest weakness.
“I don’t want to put pressure on anyone. Our team, for the past years, we all know we have problems. The issue about our team is the defence,” he stated.
Agyemang-Badu believes newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz must prioritise fixing the defensive structure to restore confidence within the squad.
“He needs to set the defensive lineup and let the boys gain their confidence back. Some of them, their confidence is a bit down,” he added.
When asked about Ghana’s chances at the tournament in North America, the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalist avoided making bold predictions, insisting it is too early to determine the team’s potential.
“For the World Cup, I have to be very frank; I don’t know where we will reach. Let’s see how he will build the team, the kind of players he will bring on board, the identity we will have, and the defensive setup he will deploy,” he explained.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, and will open their campaign against Panama on June 17. While Queiroz has already set his sights on winning the opening game, Agyemang-Badu insists that any ambitions of a deep run will depend on how quickly the team can stabilise defensively.
