Ghana’s World Cup Qualification One of the Proudest Moments of My Career- Jerome Opoku
Ghanaian defender Jerome Opoku has described the Black Stars’ qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the most defining and emotional experiences of his football career.
The İstanbul Başakşehir centre-back played a key role in Ghana’s successful qualification campaign, which culminated in a 1-0 win over Comoros in Accra earlier this month — a result that confirmed the nation’s ticket to the global showpiece set for the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
In an exclusive interview with RG Sports, Opoku reflected on the emotions that came with the achievement, admitting that the magnitude of the moment took some time to fully register.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in. But when I was on that pitch, and once the whistle went, I looked around me, I saw everyone’s faces, I saw my family’s faces too, it was just amazing,” he recalled.
“That’s definitely the biggest achievement so far in my career, 100%. It definitely made me feel like I was a part of something much bigger than just football, because you see how much it means to literally everyone in the country… it was amazing.”
The 27-year-old featured in five matches during the qualification phase, establishing himself as one of coach Otto Addo’s most reliable defenders.
Looking ahead, the former Fulham and Arouca man believes Ghana’s qualification marks just the beginning of a new era for the Black Stars, as the team continues to mature under Addo’s leadership.
The Black Stars, four-time African champions, will make their fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup when the tournament kicks off in June 2026, and Opoku is eager to help Ghana make a lasting impression on football’s biggest stage.
