Black Stars' Wins Do Not Indicate Improvement – Nii Lante Vanderpuye
Former Youth and Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has questioned the overall progress of the Black Stars, despite their recent victories in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ghana ended a six-match winless streak with a resounding 5-0 win over Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium, followed by a 3-0 triumph against Madagascar in Morocco. These results propelled them to the top of Group I with 15 points, bringing them closer to securing qualification. However, Vanderpuye believes the wide margins of victory do not necessarily reflect an improvement in the team’s performance. He argues that assessing the team’s development requires more than just looking at the results, as true progress should be measured by their style of play, tactical discipline, and consistency.
In an interview, Vanderpuye emphasized that while the Black Stars may have won convincingly, their performances do not indicate significant growth. He insisted that the quality of their play should be the primary focus rather than just the scorelines. “Sometimes, you must appreciate the quality of the game that was played. You must look at whether the team has moved from level A to level B, from class one to class two, and not just focus on the result,” he stated. According to him, a strong team is one that consistently improves in all aspects, not just in isolated games. He further argued that their victories against weaker opponents like Chad and Madagascar do not necessarily prove that the team has made meaningful progress. “And I think the two matches we have played so far don’t give me any indication that there has been an improvement in the team, even though we’ve won those matches by wide scorelines,” he added.
Despite these concerns, Ghana remains in a strong position as they prepare for their next matches against Chad and Mali in September. With four games remaining in the qualifiers, the Black Stars have a great opportunity to solidify their place at the 2026 World Cup. However, critics like Vanderpuye believe that Ghana must demonstrate real improvement if they hope to compete successfully on the global stage. The former minister’s remarks highlight the need for a deeper evaluation of the team’s progress beyond just the results, urging the coaching staff and players to focus on sustainable growth rather than short-term wins.
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