Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, a former midfielder for the Black Stars, has advised the Ghanaian team to focus entirely on their opening 2026 World Cup encounter against Panama, cautioning against early distractions from more well-known opponents.
Agyemang-Badu established a clear focus for the team’s mentality in a speech prior to the competition.
He emphasized the crucial significance of getting the campaign off to a strong start by saying, “The Panama match will be challenging, and that’s where our full concentration should be, not on England or Croatia.”
Agyemang-Badu acknowledged that Ghana’s main objective is to go on from the group stage, but he emphasized that doing so only rests on a disciplined and concentrated approach to the opening match.
Additionally, he gave a strong caution about the selection of the squad, stating that only players who are at the highest level of fitness should be taken into consideration for the rigorous competition that will take place in three host countries.
His remarks show the Black Stars’ practical approach, portraying the game against Panama as the pivotal first step that will determine their entire World Cup adventure rather than just another encounter.
