Make every group game count – Kwesi Appiah urges Black Stars

Head coach of Sudan’s men’s national team, James Kwesi Appiah, has expressed confidence in Ghana’s chances of making a strong impact at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Appiah, who served Ghana for a decade in combined assistant and head coach roles, believes the Black Stars must approach the tournament with a winning mentality in every match at the global showpiece, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

“All the teams in the group are beatable, and no team at the World Cup should be underrated,” Appiah said in an interview with Akoma FM. “We pray that our players stay injury-free before and during the tournament. Nothing is impossible, and we can go far.”

Currently in charge of Sudan’s national team, the former Black Stars coach urged Ghana to ensure thorough preparation, both physically and psychologically, and to treat every group match as crucial.

“Ghana needs to prepare very well physically and mentally. Regardless of the opponent, the ambition should always be to win,” he added.

Ghana, four-time African champions, will be making their fifth World Cup appearance at the 2026 tournament. The Black Stars’ best performance remains the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where they reached the quarter-finals.