|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Award-winning Ghanaian dancehall artiste Stonebwoy has appealed to Ghanaians to rally behind the Black Stars following the team’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging fans to replace harsh criticism with empathy and encouragement.
Speaking during a live TikTok session, the musician expressed disappointment over the backlash directed at the national team after their elimination, stressing that footballers should not be judged solely by the outcome of a tournament.
According to Stonebwoy, no player enters a competition with the intention of failing, making it unfair to question the team’s commitment or desire to succeed.
“How do you think they feel? Who goes into a competition intending to lose?” he asked. “Yes, we have our problems, and we all know that. But what I’m talking about is our mentality as supporters.”
The dancehall star noted that qualifying for the FIFA World Cup is itself a significant accomplishment, pointing out that many countries never reach football’s biggest stage.
“The real failure would have been not qualifying for the World Cup at all,” he said. “Even among the teams that qualify, many don’t make it beyond the group stage. Let’s be honest.”
Stonebwoy questioned why supporters are often quick to turn against the Black Stars after disappointing results, despite the reality that only one nation can emerge as world champions at the end of the tournament.
He also suggested that fans are frequently unaware of the challenges players and members of the technical team face behind the scenes before and during major competitions.
“Many times, we don’t tell the public about the problems we’re dealing with behind the scenes,” he explained.
The musician further highlighted that while supporters celebrate victories and share in the excitement of success, players ultimately shoulder the greatest burden because football is their profession and livelihood.
“When a player performs well, supporters celebrate, but at the end of the day, it’s the player whose career benefits,” Stonebwoy said. “Likewise, when things don’t go well, the players are the ones most affected.”
Concluding his remarks, Stonebwoy urged Ghanaians to adopt a more positive and supportive attitude toward the national team, insisting that constructive encouragement would do far more to motivate the Black Stars than persistent criticism.
His comments come amid ongoing discussions about the future of the national team following their World Cup campaign, with many supporters and football analysts calling for reflection and reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s performance on the international stage.
