Former Ghana national football team Management Committee Chairman George Afriyie has cautioned fans to lower their expectations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The four-time African champions will be making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece and have been drawn in a challenging group alongside Panama national football team, England national football team, and Croatia national football team.

In an effort to bolster the team’s technical bench, the Ghana Football Association recently unveiled five new additions to the Black Stars’ backroom staff. However, Afriyie believes these changes alone are not enough to guarantee success on football’s biggest stage.

Speaking to Asempa FM, he urged supporters to remain realistic about the team’s prospects.

“Ghanaians should temper their expectations for the Black Stars at the World Cup,” he stated, stressing that increasing personnel does not automatically translate into improved performance.

The newly restructured technical team includes French coach Alain Ravera and Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren as assistant coaches. Spanish analyst Jose Daniel Martinez Alfonso will oversee scouting and match analysis, while physiotherapist Carlos Lozano Romero returns after previously serving during the 2022 World Cup. British-born Ghanaian performance coach Dwayne Peasah Paa Kwesi completes the revamped setup.

As part of preparations, Ghana will regroup in March for international friendlies against Austria national football team and Germany national football team.

The Black Stars will open their group-stage campaign against Panama on June 17, face England on June 23, and wrap up the first round against Croatia on June 27.

With expectations high back home, Afriyie’s message is clear: optimism is welcome, but realism is essential.