Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie is confident the Black Stars can make a strong impact at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, provided they secure victory in their opening match against Panama.
Ghana will take on the Central American side in Group L, with the tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Afriyie believes a win in the opener will put the Black Stars in a favorable position to challenge England and Croatia.
“I don’t see it as an easy game for us, but if we get our rhythm right, everything is well in camp, the team is well prepared physically, psychologically and motivationally, and the boys are in the right frame of mind when they step onto the pitch, they can cause an upset against England,” Afriyie told Graphic Sports.
“I expect us to beat Panama. The first match is very Important, and, among our group opponents, trust me, our best bet is against Panama. We all know England and Croatia are ahead of us in terms of FIFA rankings, but national team football is quite tricky.” he concluded.
Ghana’s World Cup schedule sees them face Panama on June 17, England on June 23, and Croatia on June 27.
In preparation, the team will regroup in March for friendlies against Austria and Germany, take on Mexico in May, and play Wales on June 2 in their final warm-up match.
During the tournament, the Black Stars will be based at Bryant University in the United States, with hopes of surpassing previous group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022.
