Former Black Stars coach Charles Kwabena Akonnor has stressed the importance of prioritizing youth football development in Ghana rather than focusing solely on the senior national team. Akonnor believes the current emphasis on the Black Stars has left youth programs neglected, contributing to the underperformance of other national teams. He urged for urgent action to implement programs aimed at nurturing young talent, following Ghana’s 2-0 loss to Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.