Joseph Paintsil Reflects on Black Stars’ AFCON Absence: “A Difficult Situation”
For the first time in over two decades, the Black Stars of Ghana will not feature in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), leaving fans and players grappling with disappointment. Joseph Paintsil, a key forward for the team, has described the situation as both challenging and humbling.
Speaking during his holiday in Ghana, Paintsil shared his thoughts on the team’s unexpected failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. The Black Stars finished bottom of Group F with just three points after a winless six-game run. Angola and Sudan claimed the group’s top spots, securing their tickets to Morocco.
Reflecting on the campaign, Paintsil emphasized the increasing competitiveness of international football.
“This is football. Now, all nations are really good. It’s not like 10 years ago when you might meet another team and say, ‘Oh, we’re going to score them five or four.’”
He acknowledged that complacency played a role in Ghana’s struggles, as several teams exceeded expectations in the qualifiers.
“It’s a difficult situation now, and everybody’s playing in Europe. So, you cannot say, ‘This team is bad. This national team is bad.’ The more you think that, the more they surprise us,” he explained.
Despite the setback, Paintsil urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the team through thick and thin.
“We just ask Ghanaians to always support us no matter what happens. We need to go through everything together.”
Meanwhile, Coach Otto Addo, who led the qualifiers, faces increasing scrutiny, with his future as head coach hanging in the balance.
This marks Ghana’s first absence from the AFCON since 2004, a stark reminder of how unpredictable the beautiful game can be.