Former Minister for Youth and Sports Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has raised concerns about the Black Stars’ performance despite their back-to-back victories over Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars’ recent wins have been impressive, with a convincing 3-0 victory over Madagascar and a 5-0 thrashing of Chad.
However, Vanderpuye’s comments highlight the need for improvement if Ghana hopes to make a significant impact in the World Cup.
In an exclusive interview with Channel One Sports, the outspoken former minister questioned the overall quality of the national team, insisting that Ghana’s current squad is not up to the required standard.
"I think the two matches we have played so far do not give me any indication to the fact that there has been any improvement in the team so far" – Nii Lante Vanderpuye.
Former Sports Minister weighed in on Ghana's 🇬🇭wins against Chad & Madagascar in the 2026 FWCQ.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/z74VBa3O3z
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) April 3, 2025
So sometimes you must appreciate the quality of the game that was played, you must look whether the team has moved from level A to level B, from class one to class two, and not just about the result.
And I think the two matches we have played so far doesn’t give me any indication to the fact that there has been an improvement in the team, even though we’ve won those matches by wide score lines even though we won those matches comfortably.
The Black Stars, led by key players like captain Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus, are determined to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With their sights set on improving their performances, the team is gearing up for the next round of qualifiers in September.
During the international break, Ghana will be in action, facing Chad and Mali in crucial Matchday 7 and 8 encounters. These games will be pivotal in their quest to book a spot at the global showpiece.
