Sports analyst Jerome Otchere has urged Ghanaians not to underestimate the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to him, the national team has shown encouraging signs and deserves greater public support as it continues its preparations for the tournament.
His comments follow Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Wales in a World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Tuesday, June 2. The Black Stars were on course for victory before conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in the third minute of added time.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, June 3, Otchere said he was impressed with the team’s display and believes the players have demonstrated significant potential.
“You know, the problem for me is I looked at these boys in the light of what I’ve seen others do, and I’m satisfied,” he said.
Otchere cautioned against dismissing the team’s efforts, stressing that playing for the Black Stars comes with immense pressure and responsibility.
“Let’s not look down on what these guys have done. Because you see, it takes a lot to play for the Black Stars. I’ve heard a lot of reviews, and I don’t even want to make it my opinion because we are always going to be biased towards a certain line. But what I hear the fans say is that these guys gave their best,” he stated.
He also called for more friendly matches to give the technical team additional opportunities to assess players and settle on the strongest starting lineup ahead of the World Cup.
“If they are going to have more opportunities, we need another game—not just for the goalkeepers, but to see who best fits the starting line-up and to properly assess them,” he said.
Otchere further suggested that the team’s style of play reflects the influence of head coach Otto Addo’s tactical approach.
“I think that having a coach who is also defensive-minded definitely will shape how they perform,” he added.
The Black Stars continue their preparations as they aim to build momentum ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
