Black Stars performed admirably during 2026 Word Cup - President Mahamaa

President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has praised the Black Stars for their performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the team’s campaign as admirable despite their early elimination from the tournament.

Ghana, making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, reached the knockout stage for the first time since the 2010 edition, where they famously advanced to the quarter-finals.

The four-time African champions exceeded expectations after entering the competition with doubts over their ability to progress beyond the group phase.

The Black Stars opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama before holding European powerhouse England to a goalless draw.

However, Ghana’s hopes of extending their run came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group C match. They later suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Colombia in the Round of 32 to bow out of the tournament.

Despite the disappointment, President Mahama believes the team’s overall showing represented a step forward for Ghanaian football.

“The Black Stars performed admirably at the recent tournament despite many predictions that they would not progress beyond the group stage," he said.

"They exceeded expectations by advancing to the Round of 32, demonstrating determination, resilience and the quality that exists within the team," Mahama added.

Following their World Cup campaign, the Black Stars will now turn their attention to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, where they have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia.

The qualifiers are set to begin in September, with Ghana hoping to build on their World Cup experience and secure qualification for the continental tournament.