In light of the Black Stars’ recent struggles in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, the former Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, has voiced his concerns about the team’s player base. Speaking on Asempa FM, Sannie Daara emphasized the importance of Ghana’s players securing positions in Europe’s top clubs to elevate their performance for the national team.

Ghana’s journey through the qualifiers has been challenging. The Black Stars currently sit third in their group standings with just two points from four games, a result of two draws and two losses. Facing the real possibility of missing out on the tournament, Sannie Daara believes the team’s struggles stem from a lack of players competing at elite European clubs.

“You cannot play for just any team and expect a Black Stars call-up,” he stated. “In the past, players like Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, and Sulley Muntari were playing at the highest level, which bolstered the team’s strength. Today’s players must set similar goals to help the Black Stars succeed.”

The Black Stars’ qualification journey continues in November. Ghana will travel to Luanda to face Angola on November 15 at Estádio 11 de Novembro before hosting Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18. With the odds stacked against them, the team is hopeful these upcoming games can turn their AFCON fate around.