Despite the crushing absence of star players Mohammed Kudus and Alexander Djiku, Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has released an unapologetically bold rallying cry ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: the Black Stars are heading to North America to win the trophy.
With the tournament kicking off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Minister Adams called on the nation to rally behind the team, framing the mission as a realistic pursuit rather than mere fantasy.
“Ghana is at the World Cup to win. Let’s pray,” Adams said, acknowledging the setbacks while expressing confidence in the squad’s potential. “It’s unfortunate we don’t have Kudus and Djiku but we have a good team. We are part of the 48 teams chasing the trophy and we may return home with it.”
Navigating Major Setbacks
The minister’s defiance comes at a time when statistical models have painted a grim picture of Ghana’s chances. According to Opta’s supercomputer, the Black Stars have just a 0.22% probability of lifting the trophy in July, ranking the team 34th among the 48 qualified nations and fifth among African contenders .
The skepticism largely stems from the loss of key personnel. Head coach Carlos Queiroz was forced to leave Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus out of his 26-man squad after a quadriceps injury—sustained in January—failed to heal in time. Kudus, who scored twice at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was widely considered the team’s most dynamic attacking threat .
Defensively, the squad is equally shorthanded. Alexander Djiku was ruled out after arriving at the pre-tournament camp in Cardiff carrying a knock, while Monaco centre-back Mohammed Salisu also misses the tournament due to an ACL rupture . Despite these absences, Minister Adams insists the quality in the locker room remains high.
The Queiroz Factor and Recent Form
Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz, who took over the reins for this World Cup cycle, will lead a squad captained by veteran forward Jordan Ayev (133 caps) and anchored by midfield powerhouse Thomas Partey .
However, recent friendly results have offered mixed signals for the Black Stars. While the team managed a 1-1 draw with Wales in their final warm-up match , a disastrous outing in Vienna saw the team thrashed 5-1 by Austria, raising red flags about defensive organization .
Road to Glory: The Group of Death
The mathematical path to the Minister’s predicted parade is steep. Ghana finds itself in Group L, a daunting section featuring three formidable opponents:
· England (June 23, Boston): Ranked among the top three favourites by Opta with a 10.92% chance to win it all .
· Croatia (June 27, Philadelphia): The perennial World Cup overachievers and 2018 finalists.
· Panama (June 17, Toronto): The group’s perceived underdog and Ghana’s must-win opener.
To return home with the trophy, Ghana would likely need to survive this group and navigate a knockout bracket that statistical models suggest ends for most in the Round of 32, where the Black Stars have a 50.09% chance of reaching .
A Legacy of Upsets
Adams’ optimism, while statistically bold, is rooted in history. Ghana has a proud World Cup pedigree. In 2010, the Black Stars became the third African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, finishing the tournament ranked 7th overall after a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Uruguay . In 2006, they advanced to the Round of 16 in their debut appearance.
As the team prepares to fly to Toronto for their opener, Minister Adams has framed the tournament as a test of faith and resilience.
“We may return home with it,” the Minister reiterated, refusing to temper expectations despite the absence of Ghana’s brightest stars and the cold reality of the statistics.
