Ghana’s football authorities are confident the Black Stars can be “very competitive” at the upcoming World Cup, with officials citing renewed team cohesion, technical leadership and growing commercial backing.

Neil Armstrong Mortagbe of the Ghana Football Association said the team is benefiting from a blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent under head coach Carlos Queiroz.

“We have belief in the work being done… we expect the team to make Ghana proud,” he said.

Mortagbe described Queiroz as a “father figure” with extensive international experience, noting that his leadership could inspire improved performances following recent inconsistencies.

He said lessons from past tournaments had been factored into preparations, while competition for places in the squad was expected to drive performance.

The GFA official also stressed that local players remain part of the World Cup plans, with several Ghana Premier League players included in recent call-ups.

On team identity, Mortagbe said Ghana is developing a defined playing philosophy known as “agoro with purpose” — a style combining flair with efficiency.

“It’s not just about playing… the end result has to be goals,” he said.

Beyond the pitch, he emphasised efforts to strengthen player commitment through engagement with diaspora families and mentorship from former stars such as Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan.

“These icons inspire belief and patriotism in the younger players,” he said.

Mortagbe also addressed concerns about governance, insisting the FA operates with transparency, including publishing financial reports and undergoing regular FIFA audits.

“Transparency is critical… where we need to improve communication, we will,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said Ghana aims not only to perform well but to maximise the broader impact of its participation, including infrastructure development and grassroots investment funded partly by World Cup revenues.