In the aftermath of Ghana’s dismal outing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, goalkeeper Richard Ofori has joined the ranks of players extending heartfelt apologies to the nation for their underwhelming performance.
Ofori, who took on the role of captain for most of the matches in the absence of Andre Ayew who mostly warmed the bench, expressed regret over the team’s inability to meet expectations during the tournament. The Orlando Pirates shot-stopper shouldered a significant portion of the blame, particularly for Ghana’s early exit from the competition.
The goalkeeper came under heavy scrutiny for his performance, notably for conceding goals in crucial moments during the matches against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique. His error in the final must-win game against Mozambique, where he failed to keep the ball in play, resulted in a corner kick that led to their opponent’s equalizer, sealing Ghana’s fate in the tournament.
Taking to Instagram, Ofori penned a sincere apology to the Ghanaian people, acknowledging the disappointment caused by the team’s shortcomings.
He expressed gratitude for the unwavering support stating, “To the wonderful people of Ghana, I humbly extend my heartfelt apologies for our team’s performance at AFCON. As a collective, we fell short. We gave our all in previous games, and it pains me that we couldn’t achieve the desired result in the end,” Ofori stated.
Read more: AFCON 2023: ‘My players were not there to block’ – Ofori addresses defensive lapse
Read more: Ghana’s AFCON dreams shattered after late collapse against Mozambique
He reassured fans of the team’s commitment to learning from the experience, promising to work harder to secure a better outcome in the future.
“I want to express our gratitude for your unwavering support and reassure you that we love God and are committed to learning from this experience. We promise to work harder, address our mistakes, and strive for a better outcome in the future. Your understanding means the world to us.”
Black Stars goalkeeper, Richard Ofori has apologized to Ghanaians for the team’s poor performance at the AFCON#TV3GH pic.twitter.com/Wxbyusd1gX
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 30, 2024
Ofori’s apology adds to the growing list of players, including Alexander Djiku, Ernest Nuamah, Mohammed Kudus, Majeed Ashimeru, Mohammed Salisu, Osman Bukari, Joseph Paintsil, among others, who have publicly expressed remorse for their performance at AFCON.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the disastrous campaign, a committee has been established to search for a new coach to replace the departed Chris Hughton, as Ghana looks to regroup and chart a new course for its national football team.