Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has voiced dissatisfaction with the performance of the Black Stars, despite the team’s strong position in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Minister said he was far from convinced by the national team’s progress under head coach Otto Addo, stressing that Ghana’s recent failures cannot be overlooked.
Citing the Black Stars’ inability to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Kofi Adams was blunt in his assessment.
“Very soon AFCON will start in Morocco. Is Ghana going to be there? No,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged that Otto Addo has taken responsibility for the team’s shortcomings but noted that this was not enough to erase the disappointment of missing out on Africa’s premier competition.
Ghana currently sit at the top of Group I with 19 points from six wins, one draw and one loss in eight games. The Black Stars recently secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium, putting them on the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Despite this, Kofi Adams made it clear he expects far more from the team.
“We have not qualified for the World Cup yet… so if I tell you that I am impressed then it means that I don’t know my job. I am not. There is a lot of room for improvement,” he stressed.
The Minister’s remarks reflect growing scrutiny over the Black Stars’ inconsistency, with many football enthusiasts calling for higher standards as Ghana seeks to reclaim its place among Africa’s football giants.
The Minister’s critique comes at a crucial moment for Ghanaian football, where optimism over World Cup qualification is tempered by the disappointment of missing out on AFCON. For many Ghanaians, the Africa Cup of Nations remains the continent’s most prestigious competition, and failure to qualify represents a major setback for the national team’s reputation.
