Ghana’s shocking absence from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been labeled a national disaster by Black Stars Technical Advisor, Winfried Schäfer. The four-time African champions failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time in two decades, a stunning setback that has sparked outrage and reflection across the football-loving nation.

The Black Stars endured a miserable qualifying campaign, drawing games, losing three, and ultimately finishing bottom of their group—an outcome few could have predicted. The dismal performance ignited a nationwide uproar, with widespread calls for the dismissal of head coach Otto Addo.

Speaking to German outlet Sächsische Zeitung, Schäfer, a veteran coach and former AFCON winner with Cameroon, didn’t hold back in expressing the gravity of Ghana’s failure.

> “The team missed the Africa Cup—something considered a catastrophe in Ghana,” he said.
“There was unrest in the squad, World Cup qualification wasn’t going well, and the president of the federation asked me to come in and bring some structure.”

Schäfer was appointed as a technical advisor shortly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resumed, tasked with stabilizing a shaken team. His impact was immediate, with Ghana bouncing back to secure consecutive wins over Chad and Madagascar in March.

As the Black Stars prepare for a four-nation mini-tournament in the UK later this month, the focus has shifted to redemption. They’ll resume World Cup qualifying action against Chad and Mali in September, aiming to rebuild pride and restore their status as continental heavyweights.