Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has sparked criticism, with former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice president Fred Pappoe expressing concerns about the team’s leadership decisions.

The controversy revolves around the appointment of Mohammed Kudus as captain during the qualifiers. With Thomas Partey sidelined, coach Otto Addo chose the West Ham midfielder to lead the Black Stars in their doubleheader against Sudan. Despite Jordan Ayew’s extensive experience, the decision sidelined him in favor of Kudus.

The results were disappointing. A 0-0 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium and a 2-0 loss in Benghazi sealed Ghana’s fate, finishing bottom of Group F with just three points from six matches—their worst qualification campaign in two decades.

Fred Pappoe did not mince words when addressing the issue during an interview on Original FM. “The issue of the Black Stars’ captaincy was poorly handled. The decision to give Mohammed Kudus the captaincy was premature,” he stated.

Ghana’s absence from the tournament for the first time in 20 years has left fans and stakeholders questioning key decisions, including team leadership and performance.