For the first time in two decades, Ghana’s Black Stars will not feature in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 tournament has left fans and football stakeholders in deep disappointment, with former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President Fred Pappoe offering his candid reflections on the situation.

Speaking to the Ghanaian media, Pappoe described the failure as a painful yet unsurprising outcome. The Black Stars’ dismal run in the qualifiers saw them finish third in Group F, amassing just three draws and suffering three defeats.

“Everyone associated with football is not happy about what has gone on,” Pappoe remarked. “It’s very unfortunate that Ghana will not be part of the assembly of African footballing nations at AFCON 2025. This is something that gives a lot of pain.”

Pappoe, who once chaired the Black Stars’ management committee, attributed the setback to declining performances in recent years. He noted that warning signs were evident in Ghana’s lackluster outings during the last two AFCON tournaments, as well as the qualifiers.

“Our performances have not been anything to be proud of,” he admitted. “We saw the signs and the signals were clear on the wall, so this is not entirely surprising.”

With the AFCON dream shattered, the Black Stars must now redirect their focus to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which begin in March 2025.