By OkayGoal 
Former Asante Kotoko board chairman, Herbert Mensah, has offered a frank and thought-provoking assessment of Ghana’s Black Stars as the team intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz has just 46 days to get his squad ready for the opening Group L clash against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. The Portuguese tactician must submit his final 26-man squad by June 1.
Speaking to Luv FM, Mensah acknowledged Queiroz’s pedigree while noting his modest World Cup record. “He does not have a great record at the World Cup, but that does not mean he’s not a very accomplished coach,” Mensah said.
However, the Rugby Africa president raised deeper concerns about the team’s readiness, pointing to a history of administrative shortcomings. “The Black Stars have seen this through the history of time â poor administration â and yet the players themselves try their hardest to produce something special,” he noted.
But this time, Mensah fears the task may be more difficult. “I think this time it will be a little bit difficult for them. The balance of where they go in terms of the group means that anything is possible. There’s no reason they can’t win early matches and then strategically plan where they’ll go next. Carlos Queiroz certainly understands that terrain.”
He then posed critical questions that only the team’s inner circle can answer: “Are the players good enough? Have they been well prepared? Are they stable? Are they demoralised by what is going on? What is the leadership team like? How does it really work within the caucus group of the Black Stars? Is the management team okay? There’s a lot of self-examination required.”
With Ghana aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2010, Mensah’s words serve as both a warning and a call for honest reflection within the football fraternity.