Sports Minister Kofi Adams has set a daring ultimatum for the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: reach the final or nothing.
As the West African giants prepare for their fifth appearance on the world stage, the message from the corridors of power is clear.
Ghana is no longer content with just “making up the numbers” in a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Following disappointing group-stage exits in Brazil (2014) and Qatar (2022), the mood within the Ghanaian camp has shifted from participation to ambition.
Speaking to Citi Sports, Adams, who also serves as the MP for Buem, insisted that the team’s preparation must match the scale of their goals.
“Our intention is to stay there until the last game. So you have to prepare,” Adams said. “We are going in there with the mindset that we will stay all the way to the end.”
Addressing critics who suggested a final-four target might be overzealous, Adams was defiant, noting that planning for success must begin the moment qualification is secured.
The path to the trophy is formidable. Ghana has been drawn into Group L, a subset already being dubbed one of the tournament’s most competitive brackets.
The Black Stars will kick off their campaign against Panama on 17 June, a crucial opener that could set the tone for their tournament.
This is followed by a blockbuster clash against England on June 23, a match expected to draw massive global viewership. Ghana will then wrap up their group-stage journey against Croatia on June 27.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is leaving nothing to chance. To sharpen the squad, the Black Stars will regroup this March for high-octane friendlies against Austria and Germany.
A final dress rehearsal against Mexico in May will provide the team with a taste of the North American atmosphere they will face in June.
In a move to ensure stability, the GFA confirmed the team will be headquartered at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, throughout the tournament.
The campus will serve as the strategic hub for a side looking to become the first African nation to ever contest a World Cup final.
With a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talent, the “last game” is the only one on Kofi Adams’ mind.
Whether the Black Stars can navigate a group containing the 2018 finalists and the 2020 European runners-up remains the defining question of Ghana’s summer.
Source: Ekow Segu
