Deputy Black Stars Coach, Desmond Ofei, has promised that the team will work tirelessly to ensure they qualify for the World Cup following their failure to qualify for this year's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Speaking to Ghanafa.org, Ofei, who also serves as the head coach of the Black Satellites, expressed regret over the disappointment of missing out on the prestigious tournament but stressed that valuable lessons had been learned.

“It was a very painful moment for us not to qualify for the AFCON this year, but we’ve learned a lot. We’ve learned a lot from the mistakes on and off the pitch, and we feel like we are very hungry to rectify the situation,” Ofei explained. 

Quality players

Coach Ofei expressed confidence that the team had the quality to bounce back and put things right, with the World Cup qualification being their next major target.

"It’s through hard work, through working together, and we are willing to work really hard to correct those mistakes," he said. 

The assistant coach also emphasised that the Black Stars aimed to make the Ghanaian fans proud with their performances moving forward.

With their upcoming match against Chad at home deemed crucial, Ofei described the fixture as a "final" and said the team were prepared to give their all. 

"Yes, of course, we want to make the Ghanaian fans proud of us. So, it’s very important that we give a really good performance against Chad at home. They’re going to fight, and it’s going to be like a final,” Ofei stated.

The coach acknowledged that Chad and Madagascar “both have new coaches”, which adds an element of uncertainty regarding their formations and tactics. 

However, Ofei is confident that the Black Stars' knowledge of their own players and their preparation will be key. 

"Now both teams, Chad and Madagascar, have new coaches, so we don’t know how they’re going to set up. But we know the players of course, so it’s about us and how we get the boys ready to fight and make sure they give everything on the day,” he added.