President John Dramani Mahama has taken a light-hearted swipe at the Black Stars, suggesting that players who cannot sing the national anthem should not earn a place in the national team.

Reflecting on Ghana's campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, President Mahama said he observed that the Black Stars players remained silent during the singing of the national anthem before matches, unlike players from other countries who sang theirs with pride. He said demonstrating pride in the national anthem should be an important part of representing the country.

"During the World Cup our players did not sing the national anthem. All the other players sang their national anthem with pride. Ours were quiet. It should be a qualification for playing for the national team. If you cannot sing the anthem, you cannot be in the team," President Mahama said.

His light-hearted remarks drew laughter from the audience at Jubilee House, while also highlighting the importance of national pride and patriotism when representing Ghana on the international stage.

The President's comments come after Ghana's World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 loss to Colombia in the Round of 32, a result that ended the Black Stars' run in the tournament.

Despite the exit, the Black Stars had reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010, winning one match and drawing one in the group stage before their elimination.