Entertainment pundit Ola Michael has publicly defended President John Dramani Mahama over the government’s decision not to sponsor Ghanaian supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

The president had earlier explained that the cost of transporting and catering for fans would be too expensive, revealing that each supporter would require an estimated $11,000 to cover airfare, accommodation, feeding, and match tickets during the tournament.

Reacting to the issue during a discussion on United Television Ghana on June 6, 2026, Ola Michael stated that the president’s position was understandable, especially considering the current state of the Black Stars.

“The president did not say anything bad. The team itself is not performing, so there is no point in that,” he said.

According to the entertainment analyst, public enthusiasm would have been much higher if Ghana’s national teams were consistently excelling on the international stage.

“If the team were doing well and we were winning international tournaments like the Commonwealth Games, the World Cup or the Under-17 World Cup, we would have taken everybody,” he said.

Ola Michael further disclosed that although he initially planned to travel to support the Black Stars at the tournament, he later reconsidered because he lacked confidence in the team’s current performance.

“I even wanted to go, but when I looked at the team, I didn’t feel confident in them. So why should I waste money to travel all the way there and support them?” he stated.

He added that the spirit and confidence surrounding the national team have continued to decline since Ghana’s memorable run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals and narrowly missed a place in the semi-finals.

Despite the government’s refusal to sponsor mass travel for supporters, Ola Michael noted that authorities had indicated they would still make match tickets available for Ghanaians already residing in cities where the games will be played.

The discussion surrounding government sponsorship for football supporters has sparked mixed reactions among Ghanaians, with some agreeing that national resources should be directed toward more pressing needs, while others believe fan support remains an important part of the country’s football culture.

Watch the video below:

#2026FIFAWorldCup: Don’t Be Too Hopeful About the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Ola Michael #UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/E2x6ja3Z8T

— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) June 7, 2026

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang