The 2026 World Cup is like no order. It is perhaps the most important sports event in Ghana's history. You know why.

At Sunday's pre-match press conference, I asked Ghana coach Otto Addo if his team understood the socio-economic significance of qualifying for the World Cup.

He smiled and jokingly said "Ghanaians should know that there are a lot of job opportunities in Qatar as well," before adding "Surely we want to qualify and go to the World Cup. Other countries want to qualify, too, but our players understand this (the socio-economic significance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup), and they're fighting for their spots. Sometimes, it gets so competitive we must calm them down in training." His words were echoed by Mohammed Kudus. It is refreshing to know that the players are in touch with the nation's pulse.

“Every player wants to go to the World Cup”

Otto on understanding what qualifying for the World Cup in USA means to Ghanaians#JoySports pic.twitter.com/HN7wHckMak

— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) June 9, 2024

For some time now, the Black Stars have not been able to do that. They have appeared oblivious to the significance of some important occasions. On December 1, 2022, I was at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar, where the Black Stars put on a soulless performance in a 2-0 loss to Uruguay at the World Cup. This was supposed to be payback for Luis Suarez's despicable conduct at the 2010 World Cup.

But they ended up inflicting more misery on Ghanaians as if what happened at the Soccer City Stadium 12 years ago was not enough.

Last year, Chris Hughton's Black Stars were toothless in a 1-0 loss to Comoros. It was the second successive defeat to Comoros, who had beaten Ghana 3-2 at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon the previous year.

That habit needs to change. And which better opportunity than to do it against the cocky, more or less dismissive Raol Savoy?

On Sunday night, I made the mistake of asking the Central African Republic coach why he sounded so confident against Ghana.

"I am confident because if I'm not, who will be? You think I will come and sit here and cry and say tomorrow…my goodness and so on? No. I am confident but humble. I just want to tell you guys that just wait and see what the game will be tomorrow," he said.

CAR Head Coach Raoul Savoy and fans are coy on their chances against Ghana’s Black Stars on Monday. @Dani77k reports#JoySports pic.twitter.com/fuTew8mlhM

— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) June 9, 2024

Before that, Savoy had suggested that Ghana only beat his team on their last visit, due to favourable officiating.

Even Savoy’s harshest critics will admit that he is not all about trash-talking. He has built a cohesive unit that scores at will. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded just five.

Unlike when he last came to Ghana, Savoy has both Louis Mafouta, who ended last season with 15 goals for Amien in the French Ligue 2, and Olympique Marseilles Geoffrey Kondogbia available.

They will test Ghana's character. But this, along with last Thursday's Mali match, is precisely the sort of opposition Ghana needs to beat convincingly to signal a paradigm shift.

On their side, the Black Stars will have every Ghanaian behind them. Fortunately, the demands for good football are somewhat flexible these days. People want a win more than anything else, especially in this World Cup Qualifiers.

The significance of this World Cup is one of the reasons Ghanaians would take a not-so-pretty performance if it meant they got three points against Mali.

This means more. But can the Black Stars show they understand this? We will see.