The echoes of Ghana’s shocking exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers still linger, but the Black Stars are determined to turn the page. Assistant coach Desmond Ofei has assured fans that the team has learned from its painful mistakes and is ready to bounce back, starting with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana endured a nightmare campaign, finishing at the bottom of Group I with just three points from six matches—three defeats and three draws. The disappointing run sparked widespread calls for head coach Otto Addo’s dismissal. However, Ofei insists that the technical team has taken key lessons from their failures and is committed to ensuring a turnaround.

“As we all know, it was a painful moment for us not to qualify for AFCON,” Ofei told Ghana FA media. “But we’ve learned a lot from our mistakes, both on and off the pitch. We are very hungry to rectify the situation.”

The Black Stars now face a crucial opportunity for redemption in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, beginning with a clash against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium later this month. Ofei remains confident that the team has the quality to deliver a strong performance and restore pride to Ghanaian football.

“We have to look at ourselves first. We have enough quality in the squad to make sure we perform on the day,” he said. “We want to make the Ghanaian fans proud, so it’s very important to give a really good performance against Chad at home. We are going to fight; for us, it’s a final.”

Following the Chad game, Ghana will travel to Morocco to face Madagascar at the Grand Stade d’Al Hoceima on March 24. With the team eager to rebuild trust and momentum, these upcoming fixtures represent a crucial step toward redemption.