Former France international and World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has expressed his heartfelt desire to see his country of birth, Ghana, make a historic run to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour event, which is currently taking place across the African continent, Desailly highlighted the progress of African football and shared his personal hopes for Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars.
Desailly, who was born in Accra before moving to France as a young child and later enjoyed an illustrious career capped by winning the 1998 World Cup with France, said that with nine African teams qualified for the expanded 48-team 2026 tournament there is real potential for an African side to advance all the way. While he acknowledged that some teams may be better placed on paper, he said that his “greatest wish” would be to see Ghana reach the final.
Although Desailly also spoke positively about the competitive chances of other African teams such as Côte d’Ivoire — whose squad he believes has strong potential to go deep in the tournament — he made it clear that his personal connection to Ghana gives him a special desire to see the Black Stars succeed. His sentiments reflect the enthusiasm of many Ghanaian supporters who will be watching closely as the team prepares for its group fixtures, including matches against tough opponents in the expanded World Cup format.
Desailly’s comments come at a time when African football has gained increasing recognition on the world stage, particularly after Morocco’s impressive run to the semifinal of the 2022 World Cup. With more teams from the continent participating in the 2026 edition, expectations and hopes are high among fans and pundits alike.
