Ghanaian football legend Reverend Osei Kofi has attributed the nation’s prolonged Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy drought to unfulfilled promises made to the victorious 1982 Black Stars squad.

Speaking to Sportsblog247.com, the former Asante Kotoko star and triple Olympian suggested that the state’s failure to honour commitments made to the players who delivered Ghana’s fourth and last AFCON title may be at the heart of the country’s continued struggles in the tournament.

“Ghana hasn’t won the AFCON since 1982 because the country has not honoured its promise to us,” Osei Kofi stated. “There could be a spiritual side to it. You don’t forget your heroes and expect blessings.”

Ghana, once a dominant force on the African football scene, has come agonizingly close to ending the drought in recent decades. The Black Stars reached the finals in 1992, 2010, and 2015 — losing twice on penalties to Ivory Coast and once narrowly to Egypt.

However, in recent years, the team’s fortunes have taken a sharp decline. Ghana suffered early exits in the group stages of both the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments and, most recently, failed to qualify for the 2025 edition — a painful first in over 20 years.

Osei Kofi, a key figure in Ghana’s golden generation, believes that acknowledging and fulfilling past promises could be a critical step toward breaking the curse and reviving the country’s footballing fortunes.