Black Stars Determined to Bounce Back – Assistant Coach Desmond Ofei
Black Stars assistant coach Desmond Ofei has assured Ghanaians that both the playing body and technical team are fully committed to restoring the team’s reputation following their recent struggles.
The senior national team has faced heavy criticism after failing to qualify for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, marking their first absence from the tournament in two decades.
With Ghana now focusing on securing a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ofei—who recently joined the technical team—believes the squad is eager to correct past mistakes and get back on track.
“As we all know, it was a painful moment for us not to qualify for the AFCON this year in Morocco. But we’ve learned a lot from the mistakes on and off the pitch, and we feel very hungry to try and rectify the situation,” Ofei told GFA Media.
“Once again, it’s still about hard work and working together. We are willing to work really hard to fix those mistakes. I think we have to look at ourselves first because we have enough quality in the squad to make sure we perform on the day,” he added.
The assistant coach also called on the Ghanaian fans to rally behind the team as they prepare for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
“We want to also make the Ghanaian fans very proud of us, so it’s very important that we give a really good performance against Chad at home. We are going to fight, and it’s going to be like a final.
“For us, it’s crucial to ensure this window ends on a positive note and make sure that the Ghanaian fans are happy with us,” Ofei concluded.
The Black Stars will host Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, at 19:00 GMT, before traveling to Morocco to face Madagascar at the Grand Stade d’Al Hoceima on Monday, March 24.
