Ghana’s technical advisor and director of football, Winfried Schäfer, believes the Black Stars are on the brink of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that two more victories could guarantee their qualification.
The veteran German coach shared his views following Ghana’s recent performances, which included back-to-back wins over Chad and Madagascar in March.
These results have positioned the Black Stars at the top of Group I in the African qualifiers, significantly boosting their hopes of returning to the global stage for a fifth time.
With four crucial fixtures remaining, Schäfer is convinced that Ghana has what it takes to finish the job and book their ticket to the tournament, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“We have quality players. We have a player playing for Auxerre, another for Bilbao, and one for West Ham,” said Schäfer after the Black Stars Unity Cup friendlies in London.
His remarks reflect the depth of Ghana’s squad, which blends domestic talents with a solid European-based contingent.
Schäfer, who has vast experience coaching across Africa and the Middle East, emphasized that momentum is now key.
“If we manage to win two matches, we will be able to secure our ticket to the World Cup. As for Nigeria’s situation, I don’t know,” he added, making it clear that Ghana must focus solely on their path rather than watching rivals.
Ghana’s next fixtures in the qualifiers will see them travel to face Chad, followed by a high-stakes home encounter against Mali.
Victory in both matches would all but confirm their qualification, given their current standing atop the group with 15 points.
The final stretch of the campaign will conclude in October with matches against the Comoros and the Central African Republic—fixtures that could either seal their fate or open the door for late drama in Group I.
Schäfer’s confidence will be welcome news to fans eager to see the Black Stars return to the World Cup after missing out in 2018 and exiting at the group stage in 2022.
With a promising core of emerging talent and an experienced leadership team, Ghana now stands on the verge of another major international appearance.
