In the wake of Ghana’s dismal 2-1 defeat to Niger in their final Group F match, which saw the Black Stars miss out on qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has assured the nation that efforts will be made to rebuild the team.

Ghana’s failure to secure a single win in the qualifying rounds, finishing with only 3 points from six matches, has left the Black Stars watching from the sidelines as the tournament heads to Morocco. Okraku, deeply disheartened by the team’s performance, expressed his frustration with the Black Stars’ decline, which has been evident since their high point in 2022.

“From the highest heights of world football on the 29th of March 2022 to the lowest ebb of AFCON qualifying matches, my heart bleeds. Definitely, this is not what we want or what we bargained for,” Okraku said, acknowledging the painful reality of Ghana’s failure to qualify.

However, the GFA President remained optimistic about the future, vowing to take the necessary steps to restore the Black Stars to their former glory. “The road to full recovery after normalization is definitely bumpy and rough, but our collective efforts and patience will win, and Ghana our beloved country will win,” he added, rallying Ghanaians to remain hopeful and united in the face of adversity.

Okraku shared in the nation’s pain, affirming, “As a Black Stars fan and as the leader, I share in your pain and in our pain. We will rise from this temporary setback. It shall be well.”

In response to the crisis, the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss the future direction of Ghanaian football and map out a path forward for the Black Stars.