Ghanaians must manage expectations from Black Stars – Ibrahim Sannie Daara

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara has appealed to Ghanaian football fans to adopt a more realistic outlook regarding the Black Stars’ prospects at major international tournaments.

His comments come in the aftermath of Ghana’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars bowed out at the Round of 32 stage following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Daara argued that many supporters entered the tournament with expectations that did not match the current state of the national team, which he believes is still in the process of rebuilding.

According to the former GFA spokesperson, predicting deep tournament runs before competitions begin often sets supporters up for disappointment when the team fails to meet those lofty expectations.

"Let's stop predicting how far the Black Stars will go before every tournament. We all knew this team wasn't ready for the stage many predicted at the World Cup. That's what leaves many Ghanaians heartbroken," he said.

The Senior CAF Media Officer acknowledged the commitment and effort shown by the players during the tournament but stressed that performances should be judged within the context of the team’s current development rather than against unrealistic ambitions.

He noted that Ghana’s World Cup campaign revealed both encouraging signs and areas requiring improvement, adding that the focus should be on gradual progress rather than ambitious forecasts ahead of every major competition.

Daara further called for patience from supporters and football stakeholders, emphasizing the need for sustained investment in talent development and squad strengthening if Ghana is to return to competing consistently at the highest level.

He also suggested that lowering expectations could help ease pressure on players, creating a healthier environment for the team to mature and improve over time.

With the World Cup now behind them, the Black Stars will shift their attention to the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia, with the qualifiers set to get underway in September as the four-time African champions seek a return to continental success.