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Another heartbreak for Ghanaians as Black Stars exit AFCON
Just when Ghanaian supporters thought there will be at last a win for the Black Stars, the night turned into sorrow when they gave away a 2-0 lead in additional time to draw two all in their third Group B game at the ongoing African Cup of Nations(AFCON).
The result meant that the Black Stars exited the competition at the group stages for the third consecutive time.
The team failed to win a match at the competition, after suffering humiliation from Cape Verde in the first group game, drawing with Egypt in a game littered with errors before giving away a two goal lead to share the spoils with Mozambique in additional time.
The team turned what was supposed to be a comfortable victory to a disappointing end as devastated fans took a long,painful and lonely walk to their destinations in Abidjan,to be on the first available flight or bus back home the next day.
The Black Stars took the lead in the 14th minute courtesy a brilliantly taken penalty from Jordan Ayew after Joseph Paintsil was fouled by his marker in the box.
Jordan stepped up again to convert Ghana’s second penalty of the game in the 68th minute after a Mozambique defender practically caught a Kudus Mohammed’s goal-bound strike.
The game appeared settled for the Black Stars as they remained composed until the 90th minute when Andre Ayew also gave away a penalty after he handled the ball in the box.
Geny Catamo made no mistakes as he converted to reduce the deficit.
The Mozambicans mounted pressure on the Black Stars after the goal, in search of the equaliser which paid off in additional time after indecisive goalkeeper Richard Ofori touched a goal kick-bound ball to give away a corner to Mozambique.
Reinildo Mandava then rose highest to head home a well-taken corner kick to give his side the equaliser,much to the frustration of the Ghanaian players and supporters.
The Black Stars attempted to find another goal but it appeared too late as they settled for a point to exit the tournament.
It was a very sad situation especially for the many Ghanaian fans who were looking forward to a win to hit the streets of Abidjan in jubilation.
That included a team of over 160 supporters sponsored by MTN to Abidjan to support the national team.
The disappointed fans would depart Abidjan Tuesday morning to Accra, hoping that there would be victories for Ghana in subsequent competitions.
From Michael D. Abayateye,Abidjan
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
