Unquestionably, 2024 will go down as the worst year for the Black Stars after disastrously failing to secure a place in the 2025 AFCON. Ghana had failed miserably in Ivory Coast earlier in the year in the 2023 AFCON so many expected a huge twist in the performances of the team after Chris Houghton’s departure but things never changed.
Ghana played 14 good games in 2024, two victories, seven draws and 5 defeats were recorded in all competitions. 77th position is where the country finished in the FIFA Rankings.
Three of the 14 games were in the 2023 AFCON tournament, six were qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON, three were international friendly games and two were the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The two wins came against Mali and the Central Africa Republic. Yes, Ghana won against Mali and Central Africa Republic only in the entire 2024.
Black Stars scored 15 goals and conceded an unbelievable 22 goals in the 14 matches played.
Who are the opponents and the competitions?
International friendlies
Ghana 0-0 Namibia
Ghana 1-2 Nigeria
Uganda 2-2 Ghana
AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast
Ghana 1-2 Cape Verde
Egypt 2-2 Ghana
Mozambique 2-2 Ghana
2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Mali 1-2 Ghana
Ghana 4-3 Central African Republic
2025 AFCON qualifiers
Ghana 0-1 Angola
Niger 1-1 Ghana
Ghana 0-0 Sudan
Sudan 2-0 Ghana
Angola 1-1 Ghana
Ghana 1-2 Niger
The year got off to a start at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium against AFCON-bound Namibia when the Black Stars drew a disappointing goalless against the minnows in the final preparations game before the 2023 AFCON. Supporters were so angry after Richmond Lamptey did not taste a single second in the fixture in front of nearly 40,000 fans.
Thomas Partey, Fatawu Issahaku and Baba Rahman rejected Chris Houghton’s call-up to the AFCON and it was a sign of a bad omen for the nation.
Cape Verde defeated Ghana 2-1, Egypt drew 2-2 and Mozambique’s 2-2 draw was the worst result of the year 2024 for Ghana in my opinion. The tournament was never going to end without brouhaha as some Ghanaian journalists poured their anger on head coach Chris Houghton after the horrible Mozambique match. It was clear the former Newcastle manager was not going to survive. The Ghana Football Association sacked him and Otto Addo was reappointed.
The return of the man who qualified Black Stars to the 2022 Qatar World Cup divided Ghanaians with many making it clear that he was not the right man for the job. Many Ghanaians felt Otto Addo’s comeback was going to be a good one for Ghana.
He commenced his reign with a 2-1 defeat to rivals Nigeria in a friendly game in Morocco. An unconvincing 2-2 draw against lowly Uganda followed. The performances in those two friendlies were okay but not convincing.
Crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June were Otto Addo’s next big assignment. Ghana’s smash-and-grab win over Mali in Bamako brought the spirit back as it was the first win of the year. Jordan Ayew’s introduction made the difference. Tactically, Otto Addo was spot on with many calling him genius.
Central Africa Republic came to Kumasi for the MD4 of the World Cup qualifiers with expectations so high. Jordan Ayew’s hattrick excited the Baba Yara under a blessed rainfall. Ghana managed a 4-3 win against Central Africa Republic to move to second on the table only on goal difference behind leaders Comoros.
Next was the quick-fire format of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Black Stars was put in a manageable group alongside the rising Angola, troubled Sudan and the unconvincing Niger. On paper, it was supposed to be not a difficult task but it turned out to be.
Angola ended Ghana’s 24-year unbeaten run in Kumasi in round 1 with Milson scoring for the Southern Africans to clinch victory. Another horrible performance followed in Morocco where Niger hosted Ghana. The game ended 1-1. James Kwesi Appiah, ex-Ghana defender and coach won four points against Ghana. The two fixtures put the Black Stars in a tight corner. Ghana’s fate was in the hands of the other three opponents making qualification mathematically difficult.
Otto Addo’s charges needed two wins from the last two games to stand any chance of qualifying but failed to win any. Angola in Luanda drew 1-1 against Ghana and the most embarrassing moment was Niger snatching a 2-1 win at the Accra Sports Stadium leading the Black Stars to shockingly finish at the Bottom of the table.
Ghana failed to qualify for the AFCON for the first time in 20 years.
2024 has been full of disaster as everything went against the men’s teams with the Black Stars suffering the most.
The Black Stars EXCO was dissolved after the failure, many called for the sacking of Otto Addo, and many called for the Ghana Football Association to be dissolved but all to no available.
It is so good to see 2024 end because it could have been worse had the year been left with an extra three months laden with four games. Ghana would have lost all.
Thankfully, 2024 is over and Ghanaians have three months to forget about the Aboboyaa performances.
Black Stars will not play many games in 2025 but they will be so crucial starting in March with double World Cup qualifiers against Chad (H) and Madagascar (A).
In September, the Black Stars will travel to Chad and host Mali. Then the final two games will be played in October against Central Africa Republic (A) and Comoros (H).
Black Stars will need Aston Martin performances in the six crucial games to be played in 2025. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification is a must and failure will bring confusion in Ghanaian football.
