Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has unearthed cracks within the Black Stars, with former management committee member Ernest Thompson alleging deep-seated conflicts in the team.

Thompson, a veteran football administrator, claims that a fractured squad and controversial captaincy decisions have divided the players into two opposing factions—one loyal to Jordan Ayew and the other aligned with Mohammed Kudus. Speaking to Joy Sports, he painted a grim picture of the national team dynamics under coach Otto Addo’s leadership.

“That team you’re calling the Black Stars is not a team; it is a group of individuals who are very conflicted,” Thompson remarked. “There’s so much conflict in that team. Kurt [Okraku] and the rest should take responsibility for keeping things to themselves.”

The turbulence reportedly began in March 2024 when Addo assumed the coaching role. In a bid to reset leadership, he stripped Andre Ayew of the captaincy, handing the armband to Thomas Partey. However, injuries forced Addo to reassign the role multiple times, bypassing Jordan Ayew in favor of Mohammed Kudus at one point, only to revert back to Jordan later.

Thompson alleged that these decisions have unsettled the squad. “Why would eight players say they are not available just because the captaincy was given back to Jordan? There’s a problem. When Kudus is captain, some players perform with enthusiasm. When it’s Jordan, there’s a different reaction entirely.”

He further hinted at spiritualism and mistrust fueling the divisions. “Players pretending to be injured or ill only to feature elsewhere later is telling. This is not a football team but a group of individuals riddled with conflicts.”

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is now under pressure to resolve these issues. With coach Otto Addo’s future hanging in the balance, Thompson insists that a complete overhaul of the team’s management and culture is necessary to restore unity and focus.