Henry Asante Twum, Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has identified the Black Stars’ home loss to Angola as the critical factor behind their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The defeat, a narrow 1-0 setback at the Baba Yara Stadium in the first leg, was a rare and significant blow for the four-time AFCON champions, who ultimately finished at the bottom of Group F.
“It has been extremely difficult to understand what happened in our first loss at home against Angola,” Asante Twum told Asempa FM. “Losing at home to Angola is what prevented us from qualifying.”
The GFA official highlighted the changing dynamics of African football, noting that away victories are increasingly difficult, making home games crucial in qualification campaigns.
“The African game has reached a point where it is extremely difficult to win your away games,” he explained. “The most important thing in qualifiers is to try to win your home games.”
The Black Stars endured a disappointing qualifying campaign, drawing three matches and losing three, including a 2-1 defeat to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium in their final game. The results left the team with just three points from six matches, marking their worst-ever AFCON qualification performance.
This failure means Ghana will miss the continental showpiece for the first time in 20 years, with their last absence dating back to 2004.
The team’s poor showing has drawn widespread criticism from fans and pundits, who have lamented the decline of one of Africa’s most storied football nations.
With the AFCON now out of reach, the Black Stars will turn their focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The GFA will need to address the underlying issues affecting the team to ensure a stronger performance in future competitions.
