President John Dramani Mahama has called for greater patriotism from Black Stars players, insisting that representing Ghana must go beyond performances on the pitch.
The Black Stars reached the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years after finishing third in Group L with four points, following a win over Panama, a draw against England and a defeat to Croatia.
Ghana’s campaign, however, came to an end in the Round of 32 after a 1-0 loss to Colombia.
Speaking on the attitude of some members of the national team, Mahama expressed disappointment that not all players sang the national anthem before matches, unlike players from other countries.
“During the World Cup, our players couldn’t sing the national anthem, while players from other countries sang with pride. If you cannot sing the national anthem, you cannot be part of the team,” he said.
Mahama stressed that wearing the Black Stars jersey comes with the responsibility of showing commitment and pride in representing the nation, both on and off the field.
His remarks are expected to spark debate among football fans and stakeholders as discussions continue over the future direction of the national team following their World Cup campaign.
