Lamptey urges Ghana to ditch defensive style after 2026 World Cup

Former Ghana midfielder Nii Odartey Lamptey has urged the Black Stars to abandon their defensive approach after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ghana reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010, but Lamptey said the team’s performances did not match the standards set by earlier generations.

Lamptey compared the current squad unfavourably with the teams that represented Ghana at the 2010, 2014 and 2022 World Cups. He said the present side lacked the quality, composure and midfield control that allowed previous Black Stars teams to manage matches with the ball.

The former Anderlecht player identified possession as one of Ghana’s main weaknesses during the tournament. In his view, the team did not have enough midfielders capable of keeping the ball, controlling the tempo and giving the side a platform to attack.

Lamptey was especially critical of Ghana’s display against England. He argued that remaining under pressure for most of a match could not be treated as an effective plan, because a team cannot rely on defending for the full 90 minutes without eventually being beaten.

His comments come after a World Cup campaign that produced Ghana’s first knockout-stage appearance since the memorable run in South Africa. Despite that progress, the Black Stars’ style drew criticism from supporters and pundits, with Lamptey questioning whether the tactical direction reflected the team’s footballing tradition.

Ghana will now turn to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with Carlos Queiroz retained as head coach after the World Cup. The four-time African champions missed the previous finals in Morocco and will seek an immediate return to the continental tournament.

The qualification campaign begins with a trip to Bouaké to face Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de la Paix on 24 September. Ghana will then host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later, with Lamptey’s call for greater control and a possession-based approach adding to the focus on the team’s next phase.