Ghana’s national football team has suffered a historic blow, failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time since 2004. The Black Stars’ dismal campaign in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers saw them finish at the bottom of Group F with just three points and no wins in six matches.
The West African football giants’ performance culminated in a 2-1 home defeat to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium, leaving fans in shock and despair.
The loss marked the end of a turbulent qualifying campaign, sparking outrage among supporters and raising questions about the team’s future.
In response to the backlash, Ghana Football Association spokesperson Asante Twum issued a heartfelt apology, acknowledging the disappointment felt across the nation.
Speaking to Asempa FM, he expressed his regret over the unprecedented failure.
“I would like to apologise to Ghanaians for the huge disappointment of not qualifying for the AFCON. I have been following the Black Stars for two decades, and I have never seen anything like this before.
We go to the qualifiers, play six games, and don’t win a single game. I have never seen this before,” Twum said.
A Painful Milestone
This is the first time in two decades that Ghana will not feature in Africa’s premier football tournament, a stark contrast to their history as four-time AFCON champions.
The team’s inability to secure a single victory in their six qualifying matches underscores the depth of the crisis.
Ghana’s AFCON qualification drought in 2004 was a wake-up call that led to structural reforms and a resurgence in subsequent years.
However, the latest failure has reignited debates about the management of football in the country, player selection, and the overall direction of the national team.
Fans React with Frustration
For many Ghanaians, the Black Stars’ failure to qualify is more than just a sporting disappointment—it is a national issue.
Social media platforms have been flooded with expressions of anger, sadness, and calls for sweeping changes within the Ghana Football Association.
While the Black Stars have often been a source of pride for the nation, their current struggles serve as a sobering reminder of the challenges facing Ghanaian football.
What Lies Ahead?
As the dust settles, Ghana faces tough questions about rebuilding a team that has long been a dominant force in African football.
Whether this setback will spark meaningful change or deepen the crisis remains to be seen, but for now, the nation mourns the absence of its beloved Black Stars from the AFCON stage.b
