Ghana’s 2025 AFCON journey came to an abrupt end following a 1-1 draw with Angola at the 11 de Novembro Stadium on Friday.
A two-decade streak of AFCON appearances has come to an end for Ghana’s Black Stars, sparking widespread disappointment and disillusionment among fans and pundits.
As Ghana’s AFCON qualifying journey comes to a close, 3Sports examines five key takeaways from the Black Stars shambolic campaign.
1. Otto Addo’s Future Uncertain
Ghana’s coach, Otto Addo, faces severe consequences after the calamitous AFCON qualification campaign. Despite his long-term contract, failing to qualify from a group with Angola, Niger, and Sudan is unforgivable.
Otto Addo’s second tenure with the Black Stars has been disastrous, yielding a dismal record of 2 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses in 9 games, translating to a meager 22.22% win rate.
failure is catastrophic, and prompt action is necessary.
Under Otto Addo’s guidance, Ghana relinquished its 24-year invincibility at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, losing narrowly to Angola, and he has overseen Ghana’s first AFCON qualification failure in 20 years, a tournament the Black Stars typically dominated at the qualifying round with ease. This failure is catastrophic, and swift action is necessary.
2. The Black Stars’ Downward Spiral Continues
Once a continent’s powerhouse and top national side, the four-time African champions are declining rapidly, and it’s showing no signs of slowing. In Ghana’s last four tournaments, the Black Stars have consistently failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Ghana’s downward trajectory started in 2019 with a Round of 16 AFCON exit, marking the first semi-final miss in over a decade. It then continued with a back-to-back group-stage eliminations in 2021 and 2023, culminating in a complete tournament miss in 2025.Although Ghana put up a good performance in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, they failed to progress beyond the group. The present state of Ghana football is alarming, and all stakeholders responsible for this humiliation,
from the pinnacle to the foundation, should feel profoundly ashamed.
3. Passion and Pride Absent in Black Stars Performances
The Black Stars’ recent struggles are a testament to the team’s glaring lack of accountability and passion. Despite boasting talented individuals who excel at the club level, the national team’s consistent underperformance is staggering. Players seem disconnected from the nation’s pride and expectations, delivering lackluster displays that have become all too familiar.
The Black Stars dismal display on Friday,against Angola revealed a startling absence of urgency, hunger, and passion among players to achieve something for the nationagainst Angola revealed a startling absence of urgency, hunger, and passion among players to achieve something for the nation.
4. A Strong Case for Ghana Premier League
Despite the dismal outcome against Angola, there were encouraging takeaways. Razak Simpson from Nations FC in the Ghana Premier League was arguably Ghana’s standout performer. Making his debut under challenging circumstances, the defender showcased character, hunger, and passion, making a compelling case for increased inclusion of local talent. If the GFA invests more in domestic leagues, a wealth of talented players could emerge as future national team stalwarts.
5. Path to Progress
The humiliation in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers serves as a wake-up call for Ghanaian football. Urgent structural changes are needed from top to bottom, and everyone involved in Ghana’s football decline must take responsibility. This isn’t just about the players or the coach or the FA; it’s about the nation’s pride . Ghanaians deserve better and the Black Stars need a return to the energy and excitement that once defined them. Now is the time for tough questions and tougher decisions as everyone involved should put their personal interests aside and act in Ghana’s interest by driving reforms that will bring the Ghana football to where and it truly belongs.
