Former Ghana international and football legend Mohammed Polo has declared that the Black Stars have no excuse to miss out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With FIFA increasing the number of participating teams from Africa to nine, Polo believes Ghana’s path to the tournament is more accessible than ever.
In an interview, Polo emphasized the importance of the current generation stepping up to uphold the legacy built by their predecessors.
“The younger ones have to know their predecessors have left a legacy which they have to take over,” Polo said. “They have to do everything possible; what we’ve left is so important that it has to be broken.”
Polo pointed to the fact that the African slot allocation for the World Cup has increased from five to nine, giving Ghana a much better chance of qualifying. However, he warned that this opportunity must not be taken lightly, especially after the national team failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)—a first in 20 years.
“We don’t want to see that AFCON issue again,” Polo stressed. “This time, there are nine slots. There is no way they have to miss out. They shouldn’t be missing.”
Reflecting on Ghana’s memorable performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where the team narrowly missed out on a historic semifinal appearance, Polo acknowledged that Morocco’s recent success—reaching the semifinals in 2022—has raised the bar for African teams.
“Morocco has come to make that record. Ghana had the chance to set that record first. Now they have to work harder,” he said.
Polo encouraged the players to come together as a family, play for national pride, and aim to surpass the previous achievements of the Black Stars.
Ghana currently leads their World Cup qualifying group after wins over Chad and Madagascar, sitting three points ahead of second-placed Comoros, with four games still to play.
The former Hearts of Oak star believes this momentum must be sustained through unity and dedication.
“The only thing they can show us now is that they qualified for the World Cup,” he added. “They must keep the focus, avoid complacency, and play for Ghana and for themselves.”
As Ghana builds momentum in the qualifiers, Polo’s words serve as a powerful reminder of the stakes at hand. With nine slots available and a legacy to uphold, the Black Stars must rise to the occasion and deliver.
