Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, former midfielder of the Black Stars, has shared his thoughts on the African draw for the qualifiers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, acknowledging that it won't be an easy journey for Ghana, although the group appears manageable.
Ghana has participated in every World Cup since 2006, except for 2018, and aims to secure a spot in the 2026 edition as well.
To achieve that goal, Ghana must navigate through Group I in the qualifiers, facing tough opponents such as Mali, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Comoros, and Chad.
Following the draw, Badu believes that with the right mindset, approach, and discipline, Ghana can successfully qualify for the World Cup.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Badu emphasized the importance of establishing discipline within the team and not tolerating any egoistic behavior. He believes that by doing the right things, Ghana can secure qualification.
The qualifying series is set to commence on November 13, 2023.
