For the first time in over two decades, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will proceed without the prominent presence of the Black Stars, as Ghana faces a disappointing absence from the 2025 tournament scheduled to kick off in Morocco on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
The four-time continental champions failed to secure qualification, marking a significant low point in the nation’s footballing history since their last absence in 2004.
This setback ends a formidable run of 10 consecutive appearances in Africa’s premier football competition.
Ghana’s qualification campaign was a stark story of underperformance. Placed in a challenging group alongside Angola, Sudan, and Niger, the Black Stars finished at the bottom of the standings without registering a single victory across their six matches.
Their final tally was a mere three points, derived from three draws and three losses. This dismal record allowed Angola and Sudan to secure the top two spots and their places in the finals.
The failure to qualify has not gone down well with the Ghanaian football community, with current and former players, including the legendary Asamoah Gyan, openly expressing profound disappointment.
The immediate fallout of this failure was swift. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) took decisive action, dissolving the Black Stars Management Committee in a move to address the team’s poor showing and re-evaluate the administrative structure surrounding the national team.
In a perplexing twist of fate, the Black Stars have showcased a contradictory performance profile. While their AFCON campaign ended in failure, the team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This sharp divergence in performance has intensified scrutiny on the factors contributing to the AFCON disappointment.
The nation now looks toward the World Cup with a mix of anticipation and a lingering sense of missed opportunity regarding the continental tournament in Morocco which runs until January 18.
