Ghana defender Jerome Opoku has expressed confidence in the Black Stars’ determination to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following back-to-back victories against Chad and Madagascar during the March international break, the four-time African champions have revived their qualification hopes after a disappointing failure to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Reflecting on their renewed motivation, Opoku emphasized the team’s commitment to making amends by qualifying for the global tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“This time we had a different and much bigger motivation because the team failed to qualify for the AFCON and so we needed to put that behind and move on, and also try and make it up to the whole country by winning games and qualifying for the World Cup,” Opoku told Flashscore.
The 25-year-old defender also praised the collective effort of the team, stating, “We had to put in much more effort to make that happen. So big shouts to the whole team, coaches, and everyone involved. We know it’s not done yet, so we stay focused and make sure we get the job done.”
As Ghana pushes for a fifth World Cup appearance, Opoku remains optimistic about their chances despite acknowledging the challenges ahead.
“I am 200% confident of qualifying. That’s the aim and dream. We know it’s not a job done yet and it won’t be easy, but we will fight hard till the end to ensure that we secure the necessary and needed points to be first in the group and qualify for the World Cup,” he stated.
“We are working diligently to improve our game and ensure we secure the necessary results in the remaining matches. We remain focused on the task ahead and believe that we will achieve our goal,” he added.
The Black Stars will regroup in September for their crucial Matchday 7 and 8 fixtures against Chad and Mali as they continue their pursuit of World Cup qualification.