Black Stars winger Kamaldeen Sulemana says the team is fully focused on securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following recent setbacks in continental competitions.
Ghana reignited their qualification campaign in March with dominant performances, recording a 5-0 win over Chad and a 3-0 victory against Madagascar in Matchday 5 and 6 of the qualifiers. The two consecutive wins have propelled the Black Stars to the top of Group I with 15 points, significantly boosting their chances of making it to the global stage.
Reflecting on the team’s struggles at recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments — including group-stage exits in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, and a failure to qualify for the upcoming edition — Sulemana admitted the players accept responsibility for the disappointments.
“We didn’t perform well in the last two AFCON tournaments, so we were hoping to make this year a great one,” he told Showmax. “As players, we take the blame and full responsibility for not qualifying, and we have apologised to the country and our fans.”
The Southampton forward stressed the team’s renewed focus on the World Cup qualifiers and their desire to make a strong impression if they secure a spot at the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“We want to do well in the World Cup qualifiers and in the World Cup,” Sulemana added.
The Black Stars will continue their qualifying campaign in September when they face Chad and Mali in Matchday 7 and 8, before wrapping up the series with fixtures against Comoros and the Central African Republic.
