After missing out on qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ghana will have a point to prove at the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Head coach Otto Addo kept his job after leading the team to World Cup qualification and will be desperate for redemption in North America.
Read on as we assess whether Ghana have what it takes to bounce back from the 2025 AFCON disappointment at the World Cup.
Seeking redemption at the 2026 World Cup
Despite their disappointment at missing out on AFCON, Ghana secured World Cup qualification by topping Group I with 25 points from a possible 30.
The Black Stars made light work of Mali, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, Comoros and Chad to directly qualify for the World Cup.
They have been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama. If they defeat Panama and hold one of England or Croatia to a draw, they could secure a place in the next round.
The Black Stars undoubtedly have the quality to redeem themselves this summer. They are one of the most star-studded African squads.
Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo is the obvious dangerman. The versatile winger delivered 10 goals and three assists in 20 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth this season.
While his output for the Black Stars has been subdued, the 2026 World Cup offers him an opportunity to truly announce himself on the biggest stage.
Addo should have injured Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus back before the tournament. Kudus has blown hot and cold for Spurs, but Ghana will hope to have him fit and firing.
Mohammed Salisu, Thomas Partey, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Inaki Williams and Alexander Djiku will also be eager to make an impression at the World Cup.
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) could provide Ghana with another valuable weapon. Al-Qadsiah’s Christopher Bonsu Baah has been in excellent form in the Middle East this season.
His efforts have resulted in Al-Qadsiah becoming a popular pick on online betting sites, with Arab punters backing them to upset the league’s top teams.
Bettors have increasingly used comparison websites such as Arabswin.com to find the best sportsbooks to wager on them in recent months.
Bonsu Baah has played a key role in their bid to upset the odds. The former Genk prospect will understandably be eyeing a place on the plane to the World Cup.
Ghana bidding to repeat their 2010 heroics
Ghana are capable of causing serious problems this summer. They play with pace, physicality and conviction, as evidenced during World Cup qualification.
That version of Ghana could potentially drag England, Croatia and Panama into deep waters. Their main problem, as history keeps reminding us, is consistency.
They have often failed to perform when it matters most. The AFCON qualifying collapse was not an isolated incident but part of a worrying pattern.
There have been too many flat performances and incidents of an inability to respond when momentum swings. Talent has rarely been the issue. Mentality, cohesion and execution have.
Recent performances in tournaments have been major disappointments, draining confidence from supporters who know how high their ceiling is.
If Ghana arrive in North America carrying the same hesitancy and disjointedness, the World Cup could quickly become another painful chapter.
However, if Addo can reconnect the squad to the hunger and clarity that powered their qualifying run, the Black Stars could yet be one of the tournament’s most awkward opponents.
The opportunity for redemption is real. So too is the risk that this familiar cycle of promise followed by underachievement continues.
Ghana’s World Cup fate may hinge less on who they face and more on whether they finally decide to show up when it truly matters.
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