Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has outlined the approach he says helped the Black Stars qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The senior national team had faced heavy criticism after failing to reach the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in more than two decades. The disappointment led to frustration among supporters and lower attendance at matches.
But results have since improved. Following Adams’ appointment, Ghana played six World Cup qualifying matches, winning five and drawing one to secure qualification.
Speaking to Graphic Sports, Adams admitted many had lost belief in the team.
“There were a lot of people who gave up on Black Stars,” he said. “But through a certain strategic pull-up, we have been able to play six matches, won five and drawn one, and that made it possible for us to qualify.”
He said the turnaround came from a joint effort involving the government, football authorities and supporters.
According to Adams, backing from the Presidency and increased fan turnout at the Accra Sports Stadium played an important role in lifting the team’s performance.
He also highlighted changes to how the team was managed, including a new approach to player incentives. Instead of paying bonuses for each win, the focus was placed on qualifying for the tournament, with rewards linked to that goal.
“We started first by letting them know that we’re not going to pay them winning bonuses as it used to be, we want them to manage the team to make sure that we qualify, and when we have qualified, we have a reward to give them. They accepted this, and we’ve worked with that,” he said.
Ghana finished top of their group and have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama for the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Black Stars are currently in Vienna preparing for a friendly match against Austria on 27 March, before travelling to Stuttgart to face Germany three days later.
By: Pascal Amoah
