The Black Stars are back home. Their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32 in Kansas City. It was a tournament of mixed feelings. It gave hope for the future but also showed the problems that still hold Ghanaian football back.
On one hand, Ghana reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010. They held England to a goalless draw and showed defensive organisation that has been missing in recent tournaments. Under Carlos Queiroz, the Black Stars conceded only three goals in four matches. That is a big improvement on the ten goals they let in during their last four games under the previous coach. For a team often accused of lacking tactical discipline, this is real progress.
But progress is not the same as winning. Ghana scored only two goals in four matches. In their final game, they did not have a single shot on target. Against a Colombia side that was good but not great, the Black Stars had no attacking threat. The defensive foundation Queiroz has built is strong, but the attack is weak.
The most emotional moment of the tournament may have been the final World Cup game for Jordan Ayew. At 34, he is now Ghana's appearance record holder, having passed his brother Andre's mark of 120 caps. But against Colombia, he could no longer provide the pace and direct running his team needed. He was isolated and could not turn defence into attack quickly enough. This is not a criticism of a player who has served his country well. It is simply a recognition that every era must end.
The future belongs to the next generation. Players like Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, and Caleb Yirenkyi must now take over. The question is whether the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has the plan to develop them properly.
Carlos Queiroz has given Ghana something it has lacked for years: a defensive identity. The Portuguese coach has made the Black Stars hard to beat. But the next step must be to find an attacking identity to go with it. Ghana had only 36.1 per cent possession in the group stage, the second-lowest among teams that reached the knockout rounds. Against Colombia, the story was even worse. At one point, Colombia had made 224 passes to Ghana's 45.
Queiroz admitted that about 90 per cent of Colombia's attacks came from Ghana losing the ball in midfield. This is not a problem of talent. It is a problem of concentration and decision-making.
The Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will not be as tough as the World Cup, but they will still require Ghana to score goals. If the Black Stars want to win a fifth African title, they must find a way to attack better. The team now has a strong defence, a good midfield, and an excellent goalkeeper. What they lack is the quality in attack to turn draws into wins.
The challenge for the GFA is to build on the progress made while fixing the problems seen in Kansas City. The tournament was a step forward, but only a small one. The road to becoming true contenders is still long.
