Once a beacon of pride and a force to be reckoned with on the African football stage, the Black Stars of Ghana have endured a drastic fall from grace over the past few years.
Once feared by opponents, the team’s consistent underperformances since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt have left fans disillusioned and the nation wondering what went wrong.
In a period that has seen rapid changes in the team’s technical staff, an alarming drop in the FIFA rankings, and controversy surrounding player selections, Ghana’s football journey has spiraled into disappointment.
AFCON Woes: The Story of Three Failures
The AFCON has historically been a tournament where Ghana could boast of reaching the latter stages, but the last three editions tell a grim tale.
From 2008 to 2017, the Black Stars consistently ranked among the top four teams at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), reinforcing Ghana’s status as a powerhouse in African football.
Twice, they came agonizingly close to lifting the trophy.
In 2010, when Angola hosted, Ghana reached the final but narrowly lost 1-0 to Egypt.
The team endured similar heartbreak in 2015, this time losing in the final to Côte d’Ivoire, who claimed their second AFCON title after a dramatic penalty shootout in Equatorial Guinea.
In 2017, the Black Stars secured a 4th place finish in Gabon, falling to Burkina Faso in the third-place playoff.
During this period, success for the national team was almost expected.
Reaching the semi-finals of AFCON had become the norm, almost seen as Ghana’s birthright, regardless of the coach in charge.
Fast forward to 2024, and the situation has drastically changed.
The once unshakable dominance of the Black Stars has faded, leaving fans and football pundits wondering—what went wrong?
The Black Stars’ failure to progress has become a symbol of their recent decline.
2019 AFCON in Egypt – Round of 16 Exit
Ghana’s troubles began at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where the team was unexpectedly knocked out in the Round of 16.
A penalty shootout loss to Tunisia, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, marked the beginning of the Black Stars’ AFCON struggles.
Fans were left stunned, but this was just the tip of the iceberg.
2021 AFCON in Cameroon – Group Stage Exit
Two years later, in Cameroon, things went from bad to worse.
Despite entering the tournament with hopes of redemption, the Black Stars crashed out at the group stage.
It was a campaign to forget, as Ghana finished bottom of their group, collecting just a single point after a shocking 3-2 loss to debutants Comoros, ranked 118th in the world.
The exit in Cameroon was a harsh reminder that Ghana’s dominance in African football was fast slipping away.
2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire – Group Stage Exit
At the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire played in 2024 due to lingering issues connected to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Black Stars once again failed to make it out of the group stages.
With expectations low due to their recent performances, the team still could not muster the fighting spirit that had once made them formidable.
The group stage exit in Côte d’Ivoire confirmed that the Black Stars’ decline was not just a temporary blip but a deep-rooted issue.
On the Verge of Missing AFCON 2025 in Morocco
Rubbing salt in the wound, Ghana is now teetering towards not qualifying for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
A disheartening loss to Sudan in Libya, a team ranked 120th in the world, has left Ghana in a precarious position.
🕰️ 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 in Libya.
🇸🇩 Sudan 2️⃣-0️⃣ Ghana 🇬🇭#BlackStars | #AFCONQ2025
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) October 15, 2024
As fans await the final qualification matches, the grim possibility of the Black Stars missing out on Africa’s premier tournament looms large.
Now the batteries for the calculator have been replaced with new ones –
With fresh batteries in the calculator, we’re now crunching the numbers again—
“All we have to do is beat Angola and Niger, then cross our fingers that Sudan loses their next two games.” Oh sure, mathematically Ghana’s still in it, but let’s be real—technically, we’re already out. This is the level we’ve sunk to, folks. It’s like clinging to a life raft of hope while the ship is sinking. I call it the mediocrity marathon—where we run in circles, chasing miracles!
The Coaching Carousel: 5 Coaches, One Administration
Under the leadership of Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku, the Black Stars have undergone a revolving door of coaching appointments.
Since taking office in October 2019, Okraku’s administration has hired five different coaches for the national team, reflecting a lack of consistency and vision for the team.
The latest in this series of appointments was Otto Addo, following a succession of coaches, including Charles Akonnor, Milovan Rajevac, and Chris Hughton, “Of which none achieved the desired result”
The instability in the technical area has not only affected team morale but has also hindered the development of a clear tactical identity for the Black Stars.
Zero identity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A Plummet in FIFA Rankings
When Kurt Okraku assumed office in October 2019, the Black Stars were ranked 51st in the world and 7th in Africa.
Fast forward to 2024, and Ghana now finds itself ranked 70th globally and 14th on the continent.
The decline is stark, and the statistics paint a worrying picture.
The Black Stars have failed to win a single match in their last two AFCON tournaments, despite facing opponents ranked much lower than them, such as Gabon (84th), Comoros (118th), Mozambique (99th), and Cape Verde (65th).
This alarming drop in rankings is a reflection of the poor performances on the pitch, a far cry from the days when Ghana was consistently ranked among the top teams in Africa and was a regular at World Cup tournaments.
Player Transitioning and Selection Bias: Root Causes of Decline
Another critical issue facing Ghana football is the poor transitioning of players from the junior national teams to the senior Black Stars.
Historically, the likes of Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, and Sulley Muntari made seamless transitions from youth setups like the Black Satellites to the Black Stars, providing fresh talent and continuity for the team.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case in recent years.
Promising players from the junior ranks, including those from the Under-20 team that won the 2021 U-20 AFCON, have struggled to break into the senior team.
This stagnation has led to a lack of rejuvenation in the squad, which has contributed to the underperformance of the Black Stars on the international stage.
Further compounding the problem is the issue of biased player call-ups.
Accusations of nepotism and favouritism have plagued the national team, with many fans and pundits criticizing the GFA for selecting players based on personal connections rather than merit.
This has resulted in a lack of competition for places in the team, as well as the exclusion of some of the country’s best talents from the squad.
Struggles Across the Board: The Decline of Ghana’s Football
The problems facing Ghana football are not limited to the Black Stars.
Other national teams, including the Black Queens (women’s national team), Black Satellites (Under-20 team), and even the once-successful Black Starlets (Under-17 team), have struggled to qualify for and perform at major tournaments.
The Black Queens failed to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the Black Satellites have not been able to match their previous successes at the youth level.
The overall decline of Ghana football reflects deep-rooted issues in player development, management, and the administration of the game in the country.
Infrastructure Woes: Stadium Licensing Revoked by CAF
Adding to the Black Stars’ on-field struggles is a major infrastructure issue that has left the team without a home venue.
Yes, we played at the Accra Sports Stadium, but that was just a temporary fix—what I’d call an early Christmas gift from the Confederation of African Football.
It was a last-minute effort to save us from the embarrassment of almost having to play our home games outside Ghana.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, which has long served as the fortress for the national team, had its license revoked by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to its inability to meet required standards.
This forced the Black Stars to find alternative venues for home matches, causing disruptions in preparations and limiting the team’s home advantage.
The stadium issue reflects a larger problem within Ghana’s football administration—the failure to maintain and improve football infrastructure.
Without a proper home venue, the Black Stars have been forced to play in venues like the Accra Sports Stadium, which lacks the atmosphere and history of Baba Yara, further contributing to their woes.
Kurt Okraku’s Controversial Address before Sudan double-header
Another key moment that epitomizes the leadership struggles of the Black Stars occurred before the first-leg match against Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In a now-famous address, Kurt Okraku spoke to the players, reportedly urging them to play with pride and responsibility.
However, the speech was criticized by fans and the media for lacking substance and failing to address the tactical and psychological issues within the team.
The Black Stars went on to lose the match, with many citing the poor motivational tactics of the GFA leadership as a contributing factor.
Can Ghana Rise Again?
As the Black Stars continue to falter, it is clear that Ghana football is in crisis.
The issues run deeper than the performance of the national team on the pitch—they encompass mismanagement, poor player development, and controversial selection policies.
With the next AFCON qualification hanging in the balance and a FIFA ranking that continues to plummet, Ghana must undergo significant reforms to return to its former glory.
The road to redemption will not be easy, but with the right leadership, transparent management, and a commitment to nurturing talent, the Black Stars can once again rise to become a dominant force in African football.
Until then, fans will continue to watch in dismay as Ghana’s football powerhouse continues its fall from grace.
