Black Stars defender Jerome Opoku has stated that Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has ignited a renewed drive within the team to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After a disappointing start to the World Cup qualifiers, where Ghana finished at the bottom of their group with just three points from six matches, the team bounced back in impressive fashion. Back-to-back victories over Chad and Madagascar in March's Matchday 5 and 6 fixtures have propelled the Black Stars to the top of Group I with 15 points, ahead of the final four matches.
Opoku believes that the disappointment of missing out on the AFCON has fueled the team’s hunger for redemption. "We have much bigger motivation now," Opoku told Flashscore. "Missing out on the AFCON was a huge disappointment for us, for the fans, and for the whole country. That setback has given us a deeper hunger to make things right by qualifying for the World Cup."
The defender, who played a key role in Ghana’s dominant victory over Madagascar, expressed full confidence in the team’s ability to qualify for the global tournament. “I am 200% confident of qualifying,” Opoku declared. “That’s the goal, and we know it won’t come easy. But we’ve regrouped, and we’re determined to give everything to stay on top and get the job done."
With four matches remaining, the Black Stars are set to face Chad and Mali in September’s Matchday 7 and 8 fixtures, before concluding their qualifying campaign with matches against the Central African Republic and Comoros.
