World Cup 2026: I'm not 100% confident in Black Stars – Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Former Minister of Sports, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has admitted he is not entirely confident in the Black Stars' ability to make a deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He cited poor preparation, instability in the technical department, and the likely absence of deputy captain Thomas Partey for Ghana's opening game.

Speaking on Citi FM ahead of Ghana's Group L opener against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, in Toronto, Vanderpuye drew a contrast between the current squad and the teams that represented Ghana at previous World Cups.

"I'm not 100% confident in our team; I'm not. I am a Ghanaian… but I'm confident in them," he said.

"The confidence I had in the team that went to the 2006 World Cup, 2010 and even 2014 World Cups is not the same as now due to the fact that this team has not been a consistent team."

Too many disruptions

Vanderpuye pointed to the frequent changes in the squad's composition and, more critically, the late appointment of head coach Carlos Queiroz as key factors undermining his faith.

"There have been too many mix-ups in this team, and worst of all, look at the change in the timing in the change of the technical department… and unfortunately, we are looking at a team that is training under this coach for just about a month," he said.

Queiroz was appointed in April, replacing Otto Addo just weeks before the tournament. Ghana played only one friendly under the Portuguese tactician — a 1-1 draw with Wales on June 2 — leaving little time for tactical fine‑tuning.

Adding to the anxiety, Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada over a visa issue and will miss the Panama match, further disrupting the team's midfield plans.

Hope for Black Stars

Despite his reservations, Vanderpuye stopped short of writing off the team entirely.

"I'm not 100% confident, but I'm confident in them," he reiterated, suggesting that while the odds may be stacked against the Black Stars, he still holds out hope for a positive result.

Ghana open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England (June 23) and Croatia (June 27). The former minister's words reflect the cautious mood of many Ghanaian fans — hopeful, yet realistic about the challenges ahead.