Former Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has issued a firm warning to Ghana’s technical team, insisting that only players in peak physical condition should be selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Agyemang-Badu, the physical demands of the expanded tournament—hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada—leave no room for compromise when it comes to fitness.
“We need a squad of fully fit players,” he stated. “Ghana cannot afford to add players just to make up numbers. Any player carrying even a slight injury should not be considered.”
The former international stressed that the travel demands, intensity of matches, and recovery time required at the World Cup make optimal fitness essential for competing at the highest level.
Ghana have been drawn into a challenging Group L, where they will face Panama, England, and Croatia. While advancing from the group stage remains the primary objective, Agyemang-Badu believes that success will depend heavily on careful preparation and disciplined squad selection.
He also called for total focus on the Black Stars’ opening fixture, warning against looking too far ahead. “The Panama match will be difficult, and that’s where our full attention should be—not on England or Croatia,” he said.
Agyemang-Badu’s comments underline fitness and focus as the cornerstones of Ghana’s World Cup ambitions, as the Black Stars seek to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since their historic 2010 run.
