A Call to Action for a Footballing Revival

Ghanaian football legend Abedi Pele, a three-time African Footballer of the Year, has shared his concerns about the declining state of football in Ghana. Speaking in the wake of the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the former national team captain called for collective effort and hard work to reshape the country’s footballing future.

The Black Stars recently endured a dismal AFCON qualifying campaign, finishing bottom of Group F with just three points and failing to secure a single win. This disappointment has reignited conversations about the state of both the national team and local football, which has struggled to capture attention and maintain its former glory.

Reflecting on the situation, Abedi Pele, a key member of the team that last won the AFCON in 1982, emphasized the need to look ahead and focus on rebuilding:

“Time changes everything. We’re talking about three decades, so we mustn’t dwell on the past. Instead, we need to look forward, work hard, and achieve our goals. To become a great football nation, we must put our house in order and focus on getting results. That’s what it takes to succeed anywhere in the world,” he stated during an interaction with the media, as reported by PanAfricaFootball.

Pele also highlighted the unifying power of football, stressing its role in bringing people together and fostering national pride.

His call to action is not just a critique but a challenge to all stakeholders—players, coaches, administrators, and fans—to work together and rebuild Ghana’s footballing heritage.

The words of a legend like Abedi Pele carry weight, and his plea serves as a reminder that success in football, as in life, requires focus, effort, and unity.