As Ghana prepares for its fifth FIFA World Cup appearance, former international Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has issued a ringing endorsement of the Black Stars’ chances, confidently predicting a strong performance at the global showpiece this summer.
Speaking to Accra-based Adom FM from his base in the Netherlands, the 39-year-old former winger sought to allay the fears of the Ghanaian faithful, offering a simple but powerful message of reassurance.
“Don’t worry, the Black Stars will perform at the 2026 World Cup,” Owusu-Abeyie stated.
Ghana heads to the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with a challenging path ahead. Drawn in what many consider the proverbial “Group of Death,” the Black Stars are set to face football royalty. They will open their campaign against Central American side Panama before tackling European giants England and 2018 finalists Croatia in a high-stakes battle for knockout-stage progression.
Despite the daunting opposition, Owusu-Abeyie’s confidence is rooted in the team’s pedigree and the meticulous preparations underway. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has lined up an ambitious schedule of high-profile friendly matches to ensure head coach Otto Addo’s squad is battle-ready.
The team’s preparation kicks off later this month with a stern test against Austria at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on March 27. Just three days later, the Black Stars will face four-time world champions Germany at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart.
The preparations will continue in May with a friendly against Mexico, before culminating in a historic first-ever meeting with Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium on June 2, just days before the tournament begins.
Owusu-Abeyie, who earned 18 caps and scored two goals for Ghana between 2008 and 2011, is no stranger to the pressures of international football. His faith in the current squad will be music to the ears of fans hoping that the 2026 edition—the first to feature an expanded 48-team format—will see Ghana surpass their historic quarter-final run from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
