5 Black Stars players who came under fire after World Cup performances

GhanaWeb Feature by Benjamin Sackey

Several Black Stars players were subjected to heavy criticism following their mediocre performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The team began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Panama, drew goalless against England, and lost their final group game to Croatia. Their journey ended in the Round of 32 after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

From the opening match to their final game, some players’ performances triggered backlash from Ghanaians, who were furious with their underwhelming displays that hampered the team’s progress.

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Players Criticized:

Jordan Ayew

The skipper was barely involved in most of the games he started, pressing little and proving ineffective up front, failing to complement Semenyo and the other attackers.

While Ayew’s ability to hold onto the ball and win fouls in tense moments was evident, it was not enough to propel the team toward success.

Fans lambasted him for what many deemed poor performances, arguing that he lacked pressing intensity, ball control, and meaningful contributions.

Kamaldeen Sulemana

The Atlanta forward started against Panama but failed to deliver.

Despite his pace, he struggled in counter-attacking situations, often making runs without producing a final product.

He was chastised for delaying passes in the final third and failing to hit the target when shooting.

Alidu Seidu

The right-back featured in the Round of 32 against Colombia after replacing Marvin Senaya, who was injured early in the game.

Seidu struggled defensively, often caught out of position, and contributed to the goal conceded.

Coach Carlos Queiroz blamed the substitution for the team’s below-par performance, while fans called for his exclusion, noting Senaya’s excellent prior displays.

Iñaki Williams

The Athletic Bilbao captain failed to live up to expectations, continuing his struggles with the national team.

He went scoreless with zero assists in two appearances (128 minutes played), offering little impact in the final third. His efforts were often dragged wide, passes misplaced, and overall involvement minimal.

Ernest Nuamah

The Olympique Lyonnais winger entered the tournament with injury concerns but was fit enough to start some matches.

Despite this, he was unimpressive, failing to take on opponents effectively, create chances, or score. He recorded zero goal contributions, leaving fans disappointed.

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