A Painful Chapter in Ghanaian Football

Ghana’s football fraternity is grappling with a historic setback after the Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This marks the first time in 20 years that the four-time AFCON champions will miss the continent’s premier football tournament. The last such failure was in 2004, and the sting of this recent disappointment has left fans and stakeholders searching for answers.

The Black Stars’ campaign was nothing short of disastrous. After six matches without a single win—three losses and three draws—they finished at the bottom of Group F with just three points. The once-dominant West African powerhouse now faces the difficult task of rebuilding its football legacy.

Kurt Okraku Speaks Out

Amid the public outcry, Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has called for calm and unity. Acknowledging the depth of frustration among fans, he expressed his own heartbreak over the team’s performance.

“From the highest heights of world football on March 29, 2022, to the lowest ebb of AFCON qualifying matches. My heart bleeds,” Okraku said, referencing Ghana’s journey from the 2022 World Cup to their current struggles.

“Definitely, this is not what we want or what we bargained for. At this point, only cool heads can win. We as leaders of our sport will stay together, be honest with ourselves, and fix this problem,” he added.

A Road to Recovery

Okraku likened Ghana’s football challenges to a bumpy recovery process, emphasizing that collective efforts, honesty, and patience are needed to overcome the current crisis. “We will rise from this temporary setback. It shall be well,” he reassured fans, promising better days ahead for Ghanaian football.

Focus Shifts to 2026 World Cup

With the AFCON dream dashed, attention now turns to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Black Stars will have the chance to redeem themselves when the qualifiers resume in March 2025. For Okraku and the GFA, the immediate task is to rebuild confidence and ensure the team is better prepared for future challenges.

As the nation reflects on this painful chapter, one thing remains clear: Ghanaian football will need determination, unity, and strategic leadership to reclaim its former glory.