Former Ghana captain and coach Kwesi Appiah has expressed confidence in the Black Stars’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but emphasized the need to resolve the ongoing captaincy debate.
The issue of leadership within the team has sparked discussions, particularly in the absence of Andre Ayew and Thomas Partey. The armband has changed hands multiple times, with Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew both leading the team in recent matches. However, this inconsistency has drawn criticism from fans, former players, and analysts.
In Ghana’s AFCON qualifiers against Sudan in October, Kudus was given the captaincy in the absence of Ayew and Partey. The following month, Jordan Ayew took over for the final group stage matches against Angola and Niger, further fueling debates over the team’s leadership structure.
Appiah believes that establishing a clear and stable captaincy will be crucial in maintaining team cohesion and boosting Ghana’s World Cup qualification campaign.
“I am hoping that what I have heard is true, that they’re trying to sort out the captaincy issue. If there are other issues, I hope they resolve them, but you know I’m not with the team, so it’s not everything that I know.”
“If they’re able to sort the captaincy issue, then it’s okay, because the players we have are quality, and then we make sure there’s no division in the team. Without unity, we cannot achieve anything, so I hope and pray that Ghana will qualify for the World Cup” (Via Luv FM).
Former Black Stars captain Kwesi Appiah has emphasized the importance of resolving the team’s captaincy situation to strengthen unity and stability within the squad.
With Thomas Partey declining a permanent leadership role, Jordan Ayew has officially been named captain, while Alexander Djiku has been appointed as his deputy.
Ghana is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 AFCON qualification campaign, which saw them fail to secure a spot in the tournament for the first time in two decades. The team will shift focus to the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with crucial fixtures against Chad and Madagascar scheduled for the March international break.
The Black Stars will host Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on March 17 before traveling to Morocco for a key encounter against Madagascar. Currently, Ghana shares the top spot in Group I with Comoros, both sitting on nine points from four matches.