Vice Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, Stephen Appiah, has urged Ghana’s national team players to step up and make the nation proud at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-time African champions are set to compete on football’s biggest stage in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where they have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
Ghana will be looking to improve on their recent World Cup performances after failing to advance beyond the group stage at both the 2014 tournament in Brazil and the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Speaking to 3Sports, Appiah, who captained the Black Stars during their historic maiden World Cup appearance in 2006, stressed that the current squad carries the hopes not only of Ghana but also of the wider African continent.
He stressed that the players must approach the tournament with focus and urgency, describing the World Cup as a rare opportunity that must be fully embraced and not taken lightly.
“I would tell them that it’s their time and that’s the right moment. The moment has come. They should take it. They shouldn’t play with it because we have seen players who play with it, and now they are paying for whatever happens,” Appiah said.
He added that the modern football environment places even greater responsibility on players due to the influence of social media, urging them to make the most of every opportunity.
