GFA President Kurt Okraku commends ‘inner fortitude’ of Black Stars after World Cup qualification

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has lauded the “inner fortitude” of the Black Stars, following a dramatic turnaround that has seen the team secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The achievement comes as a significant shot of redemption for the West African giants, occurring in the same cycle that saw the team suffer the heartbreak of failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Speaking in a candid television interview, Okraku, who also serves as the Second Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), did not shy away from the pain of the recent continental exit.

For a nation that considers AFCON participation a “given,” the failure to reach the 2025 tournament was a bitter pill for fans to swallow.

“AFCON for me is a given,” Okraku admitted. “We have to be there, and if we are not there, that will be the low side of our sport.”

However, the GFA President argued that the squad’s ability to pivot from continental disappointment to global success proves the strength of the current setup.

He suggested that the mental resilience required to “reorganise” and clinch a spot in the 2026 World Cup points to a squad with a transformed mindset.

“We have been able to organise ourselves, and we have been able to make it to the World Cup. That shows the strength of the team that we have, the mindset and the mentality of the people we have. That we went so low, but then within the same period we have gone so high.”

While the regret of missing the Morocco tournament lingers, the focus in Ghana has now shifted firmly toward the world stage.

The Black Stars have been drawn into a challenging Group L, where they are scheduled to face Panama, England, and Croatia.

The clash against England is expected to be a highlight for Ghanaian fans, marking a high-stakes encounter between two nations with deep footballing ties.

For Okraku, this qualification is more than just a tournament entry; it is evidence of a federation and a team capable of rebounding from adversity.

As Ghana prepares to return to football’s biggest stage, the narrative has shifted from the “low” of Africa to the “high” of the world.