Lack of team spirit caused Ghana 2026 World Cup exit – Kevin-Prince Boateng
Former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng says a lack of team spirit was a major factor in the Black Stars’ World Cup exit.
Ghana’s campaign ended on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat by Colombia in the Round of 32 at Kansas City Stadium.
Jhon Arias scored the only goal in the 14th minute, sending Colombia into the last 16, where they will play Switzerland.
Speaking to SBS Sport after the match, Boateng said Ghana’s problems were not about a lack of individual quality, but an inability to build the unity needed to succeed in a short tournament.
“It’s missing the team spirit, and I said that before the tournament,” he said.
“If Ghana builds that team spirit, which is difficult because the coach came in just a month before, but you need to build that team spirit.”
Boateng said the late appointment of head coach Carlos Queiroz had made it harder for the squad to develop the connections required at major tournaments.
The former AC Milan and FC Schalke 04 midfielder compared the current side with Ghana’s 2010 World Cup team, which reached the quarter-finals in South Africa and came within a penalty shootout of becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals.
“We had team spirit in 2010,” Boateng said. “In 2014, we didn’t have team spirit. That’s why we went home. It’s all about the spirit.”
He also pointed to the progress of smaller footballing nations, arguing that collective belief can help teams compete against more established opponents.
“If you see Cabo Verde, Curacao, all these small nations, they survive and they threaten the big nations,” he said. “Why? Because they have team spirit. Morocco, team spirit. That’s what it’s about, especially in a tournament in a short time.”
Ghana had reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 after advancing from Group L, but their hopes of a longer run were ended by Colombia in the first knockout round.
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