Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, a former midfielder of the Black Stars, expresses his belief that Ghana’s status as a football powerhouse in Africa has diminished over the years.
Despite Ghana’s remarkable history of winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) four times, the team has faced challenges in achieving significant success since their last AFCON triumph in 1982.
Reflecting on the World Cup qualifying draw, Agyemang Badu acknowledges that Group I may seem manageable on paper, but he emphasizes that Ghana’s decline in African football has made them vulnerable against perceived underdog teams like Comoros, Madagascar, and the Central African Republic.
“Our World Cup Group is manageable on paper but tricky and dangerous in reality. We have fallen behind in the pecking order. We are no longer a powerhouse in African football. We need to accept that we have struggled against all those teams in the group apart from Chad,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.
To secure qualification for the World Cup, Agyemang Badu believes it is crucial for Ghanaian players to have a good season and ample playing time at the club level, as their performances will directly impact their contributions to the national team.
“We must hope for a good season and playing time for our players so that it can translate into their performance for the national team. The Coach must create competition in the team to eliminate complacency.
He emphasizes the importance of fostering healthy competition within the team to eliminate complacency and establishing discipline while not tolerating any egoistic behaviors.
“He must establish total discipline in the team and not tolerate any egoistic behaviors.” I am sure we can qualify if we do the right things.”
Ghana has been placed in Group I alongside Mali, Madagascar, Comoros, and the Central African Republic, with only the top team in the group advancing to the World Cup.
The qualifying series for the 2026 World Cup is scheduled to commence on November 13, 2023.
Agyemang Badu firmly believes that with the right approach, preparation, and adherence to these principles, Ghana can secure qualification for the tournament and regain its prominence in African football.
