Kwesi Appiah reflects on Ghana’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2025

Kwesi Appiah, the Sudan national team coach, has expressed disappointment over Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the outcome as unfortunate.

For the first time in 20 years, the four-time African champions were unable to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament, under the management of Otto Addo.

Ghana’s qualification campaign ended in disappointment as the team finished last in Group F, after recording three draws and three losses from six matches, ending with just three points.

Appiah, who had two stints as head coach of the Ghanaian national team, shared his thoughts on the situation in an interview with Ghanasportspage.com.

“From the beginning, I said only two teams would qualify, and it is unfortunate that Ghana could not go,” he said. Despite the setback, Appiah believes that the team’s failure should be viewed as an opportunity for growth.

“But sometimes things happen and you learn from them and make sure they don’t happen again. That’s life and that’s football,” he added. “If things don’t go well, you sit down and think about how to make them better.”

Appiah’s remarks underline the importance of reflection and resilience in the face of challenges, encouraging the team and their supporters to focus on the lessons that can be learned from this setback.

In contrast to Ghana’s failure, Appiah has successfully guided Sudan to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Sudan’s performance, alongside Angola’s top finish in their group, marks a notable achievement for Appiah and the Sudanese team, further solidifying his reputation as a coach capable of achieving success in difficult circumstances.