Former Ghana international Abdul Majeed Waris has congratulated the Black Stars on reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while urging the team to address the shortcomings exposed in their final group-stage match before facing Colombia.
Ghana booked a place in the Round of 32 after finishing third in Group L, setting up a difficult encounter against the South American giants on Saturday, July 4, as they seek to extend their impressive World Cup campaign.
The Black Stars opened the tournament with a hard-fought victory over Panama before earning a commendable draw against England. However, they concluded the group stage with a defeat to Croatia, a result Waris believes should serve as an important learning experience rather than a setback.
Reflecting on Ghana’s performances, the former striker praised the team’s resilience and achievement in advancing beyond the group stage, describing qualification as the primary objective.
“It’s been really good, especially Ghana going through the group stage, something everyone was hoping for Ghana, and they’ve done it, and I think that is the most important thing. The only thing is that we just have to learn from our mistakes from the Croatia game. We changed a bit against Croatia and just have to learn from it, and then we can progress,” Waris told TV3.
Waris stressed that correcting the tactical and defensive lapses witnessed against Croatia will be crucial if Ghana are to overcome Colombia and continue their journey in the tournament.
The Black Stars will now turn their full attention to Saturday’s high-stakes Round of 32 clash, hoping to produce another disciplined performance and secure a place in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
