Black Stars assistant coach Roger de Sá has revealed the mindset behind Ghana’s approach to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, explaining that the team viewed their opening group match against Panama as the most important game of the tournament.
De Sá, who worked closely with head coach Carlos Queiroz during Ghana’s campaign, said the technical team identified the Group L opener as a crucial fixture that could determine the Black Stars’ chances of reaching the knockout stage.
With England and Croatia also drawn in the group, Ghana’s coaching staff believed securing victory against Panama was essential before facing two of the tournament’s stronger sides.
“We always regarded the opening game against Panama as our cup final. In a group also containing England and Croatia, it was the game we felt we had to win to have a successful World Cup,” De Sá said.
The strategy proved successful as Ghana secured a dramatic win over Panama, earning three valuable points and providing the squad with the confidence needed for the challenges ahead.
According to De Sá, the result was a major turning point, easing pressure on the players and strengthening their belief that qualification from the group was possible.
“That result relieved some pressure and gave us the belief that we could qualify for the second round, which was our main objective,” he added.
Ghana eventually achieved that target by progressing to the knockout stage, with the team’s discipline, tactical organisation and determination playing a key role throughout the tournament.
Although the Black Stars were eliminated after a narrow defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32, De Sá believes the campaign was a success based on the objectives set before the competition.
The assistant coach highlighted the importance of focusing on realistic goals at major tournaments, noting that Ghana avoided being distracted by the reputation of opponents such as England and Croatia.
Instead, the Black Stars concentrated on winning the matches within their control — starting with Panama — and that approach helped lay the foundation for a memorable World Cup journey under Carlos Queiroz and his coaching staff.
