Former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to conduct a thorough assessment of the country’s football system following the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Appiah, who led Sudan to qualify for the tournament at Ghana’s expense by finishing second in Group F, believes it’s time for the GFA to address the underlying issues in Ghanaian football.
“It’s really unfortunate because everybody thought Ghana would qualify,” Appiah told the BBC. “In 2014, I took Ghana to the World Cup in Brazil, and I made a statement that football is coming of age. The whole FA needs to sit down, analyse, and check what is really going on.”
As a member of the GFA’s Executive Committee, Appiah stepped aside during the qualifiers due to a conflict of interest. However, he maintained his professional focus on Sudan, guiding them to AFCON qualification.
“Once you are a professional, you focus on where you are working. If Ghana is not rising to the occasion, there’s nothing I can do. I need to be 100% professional and ensure the country I’m coaching qualifies for either AFCON or the World Cup,” he explained.
Appiah also expressed understanding of the challenges faced by current Black Stars coach Otto Addo, emphasizing the high expectations placed on Ghanaian football.
“Ghana is like England. If England doesn’t qualify for Europe or the World Cup, it’s a big issue,” he said. “Once you take that job, you accept the pressure that comes with it. Ghana not going to AFCON is a big, big, big deal.”
The veteran coach’s comments come amid widespread calls for reforms in Ghana football to restore the Black Stars’ competitive edge.
