“2010 World Cup is still in our brains and we want to recreate that” – Kamaldeen Sulemana

Ghanaian and Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana says the current Black Stars squad is fully committed to restoring national pride and giving Ghanaians something to celebrate again through football.

The national team has faced growing criticism in recent years, with public disappointment reaching a high after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

However, the narrative began to shift during the most recent international break, as the Black Stars secured impressive back-to-back victories over Chad and Madagascar in their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

“In Ghana, football means everything. There is no sport like football—we eat and drink football,” Sulemana said in an interview with Showmax. “So when we do play for the national team, we always want to fight and do our best for our country.”

He stressed that the current squad is inspired by past national heroes and motivated to create new memories akin to the unforgettable 2010 World Cup run, which saw Ghana reach the quarterfinals.

“We have seen the likes of Essien and Asamoah Gyan achieve great things for Ghana on the biggest stage at the 2010 World Cup, and that is still in our brains,” he said. “We want to be able to recreate that.”

The Black Stars will resume their World Cup qualifying campaign in September with an away fixture against Chad on September 1, followed by a crucial home clash against Mali on September 8.