Black Stars defender Gideon Mensah has said Ghana must quickly move on from the disappointment of their 2026 FIFA World Cup elimination and concentrate on rebuilding during the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The defender believes the upcoming qualifiers present the perfect opportunity for the national team to restore confidence following their exit from the global tournament, where Ghana’s campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.
Jhon Arias scored the only goal of the match in the first half at Kansas City Stadium, ending Ghana’s hopes of progressing further in the competition.
Speaking after the defeat, Mensah acknowledged the pain of the result but said the players are determined to use the setback as motivation when they return to international football later this year.
“The plan is to take every game that comes our way as a chance for us to redeem ourselves,” he said after the match.
“After this defeat, we have so many people that we have to make up to. First of all ourselves, our families, our nation and our African brothers as well.”
The left-back said attention has already shifted towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the squad aiming to produce both improved performances and positive results as they seek to regain the trust of supporters.
Mensah explained that the players will now return to their respective clubs before preparing for Ghana’s next international assignments, stressing that every match should demonstrate the team’s determination to improve.
“We will go back to our clubs and homes, prepare ourselves for the qualifiers and make sure we win every game that we can. Even if we are not winning, we have to put on a performance that shows everyone we are ready for whatever challenge comes our way,” he added.
The defender also paid tribute to Ghanaian fans, thanking them for the commitment they showed throughout the World Cup despite the challenges posed by the tournament’s time differences.
According to Mensah, supporters remained behind the team from the opening match until their elimination, with many sacrificing their sleep to follow the Black Stars’ progress.
“We are very grateful to Ghanaians. They have been with us throughout this journey despite the difficult time difference. Many people sacrificed their sleep, not because they didn’t want to sleep, but because they love the team. We don’t take that for granted,” he said.
“Our goal was to make them happy and give them something to celebrate. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way, but we sincerely appreciate their unwavering support throughout the tournament.”
Although Ghana’s World Cup journey ended in the Round of 32, Mensah believes there are positives for the team to carry forward.
He said the foundations have been laid for the Black Stars to improve in the months ahead and expressed confidence that the squad can return stronger when preparations begin for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign later this year.
For Ghana, the focus now turns away from the disappointment of World Cup elimination and towards the challenge of rebuilding. Mensah’s message is that the team must respond through consistent performances, renewed determination and improved results as they seek to restore belief among players, supporters and the wider football community during the next phase of their international campaign.
