Ghana winger Joseph Paintsil has voiced his disappointment over the recent struggles of the Black Stars, calling the situation heartbreaking.
For the first time in 20 years, Ghana—four-time African champions—will miss out on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after finishing last in their qualifying group behind Angola, Sudan, and Niger.
In an interview with Joy Sports, the LA Galaxy forward admitted that the team is still coming to terms with the disappointment.
“We are humans and we know how Ghanaians feel. We are also Ghanaians,” he said.
“The disappointment is a lot, especially when you think about how good Black Stars used to be in the days of Asamoah Gyan, Essien and Muntari. But things are different now.”
Paintsil acknowledged the rising competition in African football, pointing out that many nations now have top players featuring in European leagues.
“There are a lot of countries who have really improved. Almost every country has established players playing in Europe. There are no small teams now, so it’s difficult. We are really working hard but the results are just not coming.
“It’s like having the qualifications and applying for a job. You may be unsuccessful for a while but you’ll eventually get the job. It’s very sad for us when we go out and give our best but always fail. It hurts,” he added.
With AFCON qualification now out of reach, the Black Stars will shift their attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Chad and Madagascar in March.
