By OkayGoal 
President John Dramani Mahama has called on Black Stars players to demonstrate greater patriotism and commitment whenever they represent Ghana on the international stage.
The Presidents comments come after Ghanas senior national team exited the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Speaking in a light-hearted but firm manner, Mahama questioned the level of national pride displayed by some players, particularly during the singing of the national anthem before matches.
He noted that players from other countries often sing their anthems with passion and insisted that representing Ghana requires a strong sense of identity and commitment.
During the World Cup, our players couldnt sing the national anthem, while players from other countries sang with pride. If you cannot sing the anthem, you cannot be in the team, Mahama said.
The Black Stars showed resilience during the tournament and earned recognition for their performances against some of the competitions top sides. However, their efforts were not enough to secure progression to the knockout stage.
Ghanas World Cup campaign came to an end after the loss to Colombia, ending hopes of reaching the Round of 16.
The team will now shift focus to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which are scheduled to begin in September 2026.