2026 World Cup: Black Stars gave their all despite early exit - Ibrahim Sannie Daara

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara has urged Ghanaians to view the Black Stars' 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign as a stepping stone rather than a disappointment, insisting the national team emerged from the tournament with its reputation intact.

Ghana's World Cup journey ended at the Round of 32 stage after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, having finished third in Group L.

Despite the early exit, Sannie Daara believes the Black Stars produced encouraging performances throughout the tournament and should be commended for their effort and commitment.

Speaking on Asempa FM, he praised the players for their determination and said the team had laid a solid foundation on which future success could be built.

"Nothing is off the table for the Black Stars. We didn't disgrace ourselves at the World Cup; the boys gave their all. What we need now is to strengthen the team and address the areas that still need fixing," he said.

According to Daara, Ghana's displays at the tournament suggest the team is making steady progress under the current technical setup, even though it fell short of advancing to the latter stages of the competition.

He advised the Ghana Football Association and the coaching staff against making wholesale changes, arguing that the focus should instead be on identifying weaknesses and improving specific areas of the squad.

The former GFA communications chief stressed that enhancing the team's quality and depth would be crucial as Ghana prepares for its next major assignment.

He also praised the resilience shown by the players on football's biggest stage, expressing confidence that targeted improvements could transform the Black Stars into genuine contenders at future international tournaments.

Attention will now turn to the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in September.

The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, Somalia and The Gambia as they seek a return to Africa's premier football competition.