Sports Minister Kofi Adams reveals strategic pull-up in Black Stars' World Cup qualification after AFCON failure
Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has outlined the strategic reset he believes powered Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Sars, to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars entered the qualifying campaign under intense pressure after failing to secure a place at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in more than 20 years—a setback that triggered widespread frustration and fan apathy.
However, a remarkable turnaround followed. With six matches remaining in the qualifiers when Adams assumed office, Ghana went unbeaten, recording five wins and a draw to secure passage to the global showpiece.
Speaking to Graphic Sports, Adams acknowledged the scale of doubt that surrounded the team at the time.
“There were a lot of people who gave up on Black Stars,” he said. “But through a certain strategic pull-up, we have been able to play six matches, won five and drawn one, and that made it possible for us to qualify.”
The minister attributed the resurgence to a unified effort, pointing to backing from the Presidency and renewed fan support, particularly at the Accra Sports Stadium, which he said was filled beyond capacity during key fixtures.
Adams also highlighted structural changes behind the scenes, including reforms to the team’s management committee and a shift in the incentives system. Rather than traditional match-by-match bonuses, the focus was placed on rewarding overall qualification.
“We started first by letting them know that we’re not going to pay them winning bonuses as it used to be, we want them to manage the team to make sure that we qualify, and when we have qualified, we have a reward to give them. They accepted this, and we’ve worked with that,” he stated.
Ghana finished top of their group and have been drawn in a challenging Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia for the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars are in Vienna preparing for an international friendly against Austria on March 27, before travelling to Stuttgart to face Germany on March 30.