President John Dramani Mahama took a light-hearted swipe at the Black Stars players, suggesting that singing the national anthem should be a basic requirement for representing the country.
During a recent address, the Ghanaian leader reflected on the team’s performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, noting how the players stood silently while the anthem played before matches, in stark contrast to their opponents who belted out their own songs with visible pride and passion. “During the World Cup, our players couldn’t sing the national anthem, while players from other countries sang with pride,” he remarked. “It should be a qualification for playing for the national team. If you cannot sing the anthem, you cannot be in the team.”
The comment came after Ghana’s exit from the tournament in the round of 32, where the Black Stars fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Colombia, ending their campaign despite progressing unbeaten from the group stage.
Mahama’s playful jab highlighted broader discussions around patriotism and commitment among the squad, particularly striking a chord with fans frustrated by perceived lack of emotion from some players.
