Ghanaian football icon George Alhassan has pointed fingers at head coach Otto Addo and his technical team for the Black Stars’ dismal performance in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.

The 1982 Africa Cup of Nations winner expressed his disappointment following Ghana’s shocking exit from the qualifiers, marking the first time in two decades the nation will miss the tournament. The Black Stars finished at the bottom of Group F without a single win in six games.

While some fans have criticized the players for a perceived lack of commitment, Alhassan sees the problem differently. Speaking to Citi Sports, he stated, “The players are committed. In our case, I don’t think we have a good coach because if you have a good coach, things like this wouldn’t have happened. This issue is all about the technical team.”

He further emphasized, “No player will wear a jersey and want to disgrace himself. For me, I believe it’s the coaches who are to blame, not the Ghana Football Association (GFA) or others.”

Despite the team’s failure, Otto Addo is expected to retain his role as head coach. The Black Stars will have a chance to rebuild when they begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in March 2025 with games against Chad and Madagascar.

Ghana’s absence from the AFCON tournament in Morocco next year is a significant setback for a nation that has been a consistent contender in African football.