Kamaldeen Sulemana Reiterate Black Stars Determined to Qualify for 2026 World Cup Despite AFCON Setbacks
Ghana’s Black Stars forward Kamaldeen Sulemana has expressed the team’s unwavering determination to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This commitment comes on the heels of a challenging period for the four-time African Cup of Nations champions, who have faced disappointing eliminations in the group stages of the last two AFCON tournaments.
Reflecting on the recent struggles, Sulemana took full responsibility for the team’s performance, acknowledging their failure to qualify for this year’s AFCON. “We as players take the blame and take full responsibility for not qualifying, and we have apologized to the country and our fans,” he stated during an interview on Showmax.
Despite these setbacks, the Black Stars are focused on redemption and moving forward. “We want to do well in the World Cup qualifiers and in the World Cup,” Sulemana emphasized, highlighting the team’s commitment to improving their performance.
The Black Stars have recently shown signs of resurgence, securing a commanding 5-0 victory over Chad and a convincing 3-0 win against Madagascar during the March international break. These impressive results propelled Ghana to the top of Group I with 15 points, providing a three-point cushion over second-place Comoros.
As they prepare for crucial Matchday 7 and 8 clashes against Chad and Mali in the September internationals, the team is aware of the importance of maintaining their current form in order to avoid any slip-ups. The qualification campaign will conclude with matches against Comoros and the Central African Republic, where the Black Stars aim to solidify their spot in the prestigious tournament.
