GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Ghana’s Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has cautioned his players and fans against prematurely thinking about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, emphasizing the need to take each game step by step.
Speaking ahead of Ghana’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Madagascar on Monday, March 24, Addo stressed that the team must remain focused on the task at hand rather than looking too far ahead.
“We need to be really focused. Nobody should take it easy, and nobody should start thinking already about the World Cup because we need to take it step by step,” Addo stated. “It’s very important that we stay focused until we’ve made the job. Right now, the whole focus is on Madagascar. We really want to win this match, and we want to have a clean sheet.”
The match, set to kick off at 19:00 GMT in Morocco, sees group leaders Ghana (12 points, +7 goal difference) taking on second-placed Madagascar (10 points, +6 goal difference) in what Addo has described as a “small final.”
Ghana heads into the fixture with confidence following a commanding 5-0 victory over Chad in their previous qualifier. However, Madagascar is also in strong form, having beaten the Central African Republic 4-1 in their last outing.
With the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Africa has been allocated nine automatic qualification spots, increasing Ghana’s chances of securing a place. However, Addo remains firm in his belief that the team must remain grounded and focused on securing qualification before thinking about the tournament itself.
The Black Stars will look to extend their lead at the top of Group I and move one step closer to a return to the global stage.
