Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has admitted he is not fully convinced about the Black Stars’ prospects at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing concerns over the team’s preparation and lack of consistency.
The former minister made the remarks on Citi FM ahead of Ghana’s opening Group L fixture against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, in Canada.
Ghana’s build-up to the tournament has been far from ideal, with the team playing only one friendly match under newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge in March. The Black Stars have also been dealt a major setback with deputy captain Thomas Partey expected to miss the opening game after reportedly being denied a Canadian visa.
Speaking about Ghana’s chances at the tournament, Vanderpuye acknowledged his support for the national team but admitted his confidence level is not as high as it was for previous World Cup squads.
“I’m not 100 per cent confident in our team; I’m not. I am a Ghanaian and I will support them, but the confidence I had in the teams that went to the 2006, 2010 and even the 2014 World Cups is not the same as what I have now,” he said.
According to him, the current Black Stars squad has struggled to build consistency over time, making it difficult to have complete faith in their ability to perform on the biggest stage.
“This team has not been a consistent team. There have been too many mix-ups within the squad and, worst of all, look at the timing of the changes in the technical department,” he added.
Vanderpuye further questioned whether the team has had sufficient time to adapt to the philosophy of Carlos Queiroz, noting that the Portuguese coach has only been working with the players for a short period.
“Unfortunately, we are looking at a team that has been training under this coach for just about a month,” he stated.
Despite his reservations, Ghana will be hoping to prove doubters wrong when they begin their World Cup campaign against Panama before facing England and Croatia in their remaining Group L matches.
