Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton has emphasized that the team’s primary focus lies on the upcoming two initial matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Ghana is set to face Madagascar and Comoros in their first qualifying games for the tournament later this month before shifting their attention to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
While Ghanaians are eager for continental success, with the last victory dating back to 1982, the team is placed in Group B for the forthcoming tournament alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
Despite the yearning for continental success, the coach has urged that the paramount concentration should be on the qualifying campaign for the next World Cup, which kicks off next week.
“It’s great to want to talk about Afcon, but sometimes for coaches, it’s difficult because we have two very important games before then,” he said in an interview with BBC.
“I think if your concentrations are too far past that then you can take your eye off what is in this moment the most important thing – our World Cup qualification games.
“What we would want is to do well in these games, to win these games and to be able to go into Afcon with good momentum. But this [World Cup qualifiers] must come first.”
The Black Stars will host Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Friday, November 17 to begin their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.