By Kwame Bediako
Despite Ghana’s disappointing failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, Technical Advisor of the Black Stars, Winfried Schäfer, remains optimistic about the team’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The four-time African champions are set to return to action later this month with crucial games against Chad and Madagascar in the Matchday five and six games of the qualifiers.
Schäfer, who met with Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku in Manchester, expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to secure qualification for the global showpiece, which will be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. “I think it is possible,” Schäfer said in an interview with the GFA media. “We have to go into the next two matches with confidence and winner mentality.”
Ghana currently sits second in Group I with nine points, and their upcoming games against Chad and Madagascar will be crucial in determining their qualification fate. The Black Stars will host Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, before traveling to Morocco to face Madagascar at the Grand Stade d’Al Hoceima on Monday, March 24.
Schäfer’s optimism is a welcome boost for the team, which has been under pressure following their failure to qualify for the AFCON tournament. The German gaffer’s experience and expertise will be invaluable in guiding the team through the remaining qualifiers. With Schäfer at the helm, Ghana will be looking to bounce back from their recent disappointment and make a strong push for World Cup qualification.
