Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt E.S. Okraku says the Black Stars remain firmly on course for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification despite missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
After failing to book a spot at next year’s continental tournament, the focus of the four-time African champions has now shifted entirely to the World Cup qualifiers, which resume in September with crucial matches against Chad and Mali.
Ghana currently sits in full control of Group I in the African qualifiers for the tournament, which will be staged in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Speaking at the GFA’s 31st Ordinary Congress on Tuesday, Okraku expressed confidence in the team’s progress.
“Though we regretfully missed out on AFCON 2025, the Black Stars remain on track for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in USA, Canada and Mexico,” he told Congress members at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence.
The Black Stars have opened a five-point lead over second-placed Madagascar. Mali and Comoros follow in third and fourth positions respectively, both on nine points, while the Central African Republic sits fifth with five points. Chad are bottom of the table without a point after five matches.
