Retired Black Stars goalkeeper Abukari Damba has questioned the motivation of the Black Stars but expressed confidence in them making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their slump against Comoros last Tuesday.
The Black Stars suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Comoros after kicking off their campaign last Friday with a hard-fought win over Madagascar in Kumasi.
The defeat has left a sour taste in the mouths of many Ghanaians, leading the former Ghanaian international to question the intrinsic motivation of the squad, saying, “I always talk about the intrinsic motivation of these players; are these players self-motivated enough to play for the national team? These are some of the questions that we always have to ask,” he said in an interview with an Accra-based sports channel.
“But that notwithstanding, I still think we have the opportunity to redeem ourselves [the Black Stars], both players and the technical team.
“So far, it is not looking too good, but we can always improve it.
“Again, emphasis on intrinsic motivation, whether they are self-motivated enough to be called upon to play for the senior national team.
“How do players feel when invited to come and play for the national team? All these questions need to be answered.
“How do they approach games?
“Whether they play their hearts out and then we juxtapose that with what they play at the various clubs, then we can tell,” he added.
