President John Mahama (L) and Kurt Okraku (R)
President John Dramani Mahama paid a visit to the Black Stars to assess their preparations ahead of the World Cup qualifying matches against Chad and Madagascar on March 21 and 24, 2025 respectively.
He touched on several issues relating to football and motivated the players and the technical team to give their all to record wins in both games.
This GhanaWeb Sports piece details five major things President Mahama said during his visit to the Black Stars camp
Expectations of Black Stars victory over Chad
President John Mahama made the Black Stars players aware that he would be expecting them to beat Chad on March 21, 2025.
“I will take time off and watch the game myself, even though my heart is not very good at watching soccer. I will brave it, as they have told me to eat before watching the game.
“My hope is that you will justify my sitting and watching you guys. The whole of Ghana is going to be behind you, and I am sure that you can make it,” he said.
Qualify for World Cup to make up for 2025 AFCON fiasco
President Mahama also urged the Black Stars team to salvage themselves from their disastrous performance in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
“We didn’t qualify for the AFCON, but even when we qualified for the AFCON, we crashed out very early the last time. And so we haven’t given up on you. We still believe that the Black Stars can find their glory again.
“Let’s put the AFCON debacle behind us and let’s look forward and know that we can redeem ourselves. I know that in the World Cup qualifiers, you’re going to redeem yourselves and that if we play and we qualify, Ghanaians will find in their hearts to come fully behind the team again,” the president noted.
Player cmmitment
Addressing issues concerning the lack of commitment from Black Stars players, President Mahama entreated the players to sacrifice themselves for the national team, just as they do for their respective clubs.
“We all like to watch you when you play for your teams, and we expect that you bring some of that dedication to the national team. Playing for the national team is not as good or creative as playing for your individual teams, but still, that sense of pride and patriotism that your nation has gone to the World Cup is something that is worth dying for,” he advised.
Government committed to improving various national teams
President John Mahama stated that his government will collaborate with the GFA to equip them with the necessary resources to enhance the performances of the various national teams.
“The whole of Ghana is going to be behind you, and I’m sure that you can make it. We’re going to work closely together with the GFA and the management committee so that we can create the atmosphere for not only the Black Stars but also all the other junior national teams to perform.
“Because I think that the junior teams must be levels that progress towards the international team. And so if we get the junior team right, we’ll have a generation of players who are coming,” he said.
Caution to the technical team
The Black Stars technical team, led by head coach Otto Addo, were admonished by the president to make the right call-ups for games.
“So coach, you and your technical team, you play as much a role as the role of the players. You need to build their morale. You need to make the right calls at the right time. And so it’s not only the players but it’s also you who are the management team who are directing the game. Your role is also very important,” President Mahama said.
Meanwhile, watch the latest edition of Sports Debate as some Ghanaians predict a win for Black Stars against Chad
SB/EK
