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Doomsday of Ghana football
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Otto Addo – Stars coach
Pairing Ghana’s Black Stars in the same qualifying group with Angola, Sudan and Niger brought joy to football lovers.
Judging the standards of the Black Stars on the continent, there was not a single doubt about Ghana’s ability to snatch one of the two slots for the Morocco AFCON.
What, perhaps might not be certain was whether they would top the group or take the second spot.
But considering the Black Stars pedigree, a second place in the group would be considered to have happened under unexpected circumstances.
No prophet of the land predicted otherwise. Ghanaians were united over how the qualifiers would end.
Counting some months after, Ghanaians have witnessed football’s doomsday as the favourites complete six qualifying games without a win. It is surely the lowest to which the nation’s pride can sink.
After a disastrous draw with Niger on opening day of qualifiers, the Black Stars lost their first home game to Angola in Kumasi and drew with Sudan to end the first round with two points.
Three days later, a Sudanese team guided by a former Black Stars trainer, James Kwesi Appiah, masterminded a historic feat over the Ghanaians, leaving them with a tall mountain to climb to Morocco.
The Black Stars under Coach Otto Addo were left with the huge task of winning their last two games against Angola and Niger and hope Sudan drop all points in matches against the same sides.
The question on the lips of many, then, was even more about the Stars ability to win those two matches than where and how Sudan would let this opportunity presented them in over 12 years slip through their fingers.
When the time came for the last two matches, indeed, Sudan lost the first match; crashing to a 4-0 defeat to Niger. The ball was then in the court of the Black Stars to prove they have the wherewithal to cause what would have been one of the greatest comebacks in AFCON qualifiers.
Face to face with Angola, the Black Stars were held to a 1-1 draw to dash any hope of that comeback.
The final clash with Niger was therefore reduced to a mere academic exercise, one for pride and all expected the Black Stars to shine to seal a third position.
Sadly, that confirmed Ghana’s unimaginable football decline as the Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium.
From that moment, the conversation has been on what the contributory factors to this free fall could be and find ways to address them.
That line of conversation has put Ghana Football Association and its leadership as well as Coach Otto Addo on the firing line with all manner of invectives directed at them.
Others have expressed opinions that players were also to blame for the disappointing outcomes.
The three, however, cannot escape blame in how disappointing and unattractive the Black Stars, four-time AFCON winners, have become lately.
Coach Addo inspired hope when he led a hurriedly arranged technical team to guide the Black Stars in a two-legged face-off with Nigeria.
After securing the World Cup ticket, Addo led the Black Stars to the Qatar World Cup where the Stars put up another shambolic performance and failed to progress from the group stage.
As if that was not a good signal, a search committee formed by the FA settled on him again and was specifically tasked to qualify the team for the 2025 AFCON and the next World Cup.
At the moment, it appears Ghanaian have no confidence in Addo again, may be except the FA.
After the Niger debacle, many prayed and hoped that they would wake up the following to read or hear about the resignation of the coach and his technical team or the FA hierarchy bowing out.
Rather, what was witnessed was the typical Ghanaian attitude of holding on to straws even when the storm is very tumultuous.
Ghanaians have been asked to be calm because what has happened was not what was bargained for and that it is with cool heads that Ghana can overcome the football crisis.
The kind of players available to the team also leaves much to be desired, let alone the discipline and character they show on the field.
Ghanaians watch some of these players in top leagues across the world and know what they can bring to the table. However, they are given the chance to play for the national team and they behave like boys who have just been introduced to the sport.
Otto Addo’s future remains unclear as of now but if he were to remain in charge, he must take a second look at the players he invites to play for the national team.
The year 2025 is just around the corner. That will come with the resumption of World Cup qualifiers. What that means is that there is no time to waste.
Preparation must start in earnest but in doing so, Addo must ensure he assembles the very best and not those that they want to try because they are connected to top officials on the corridors of power.
By Andrew Nortey
Accra Hearts of Oak and Dreams FC will headline Matchday 5 of the Ghana Premier League when the two sides meet at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow, with both clubs seeking a result that could shape their early season campaign.
The encounter comes at a crucial moment for the two sides with the Phobians looking to recover from their first defeat of the campaign and Dreams still searching for their first victory after four matches.
The Rainbow lads started the season strongly but were beaten 1-0 by Karela United last weekend, while Dreams suffered a slim 1-0 defeat to Bechem United.
Hearts had earlier recorded impressive victories over Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani Gold Stars before drawing goalless with Bechem United, leaving the club with seven points from their opening four matches.
Their defeat at Karela United, however, means they will be under pressure to quickly return to winning ways against a Dreams side determined to make home advantage count.
Dreams, meanwhile, have endured a difficult beginning to the campaign and will see tomorrow’s fixture as an opportunity to change their fortunes.
The ‘Still Believe’ side have collected points from only their opening draws and are yet to register a victory, making the meeting with one of the country’s traditional giants an important test of their character.
Elsewhere, Vision FC will welcome Bibiani Gold Stars to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex today, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions.
Vision have shown encouraging form in the early stages, while Gold Stars will be seeking a response after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to newcomers Port City FC.
At the Debibi Presby Park, newly promoted Debibi United will face defending champions Medeama SC tomorrow.
Medeama finally opened their account with a convincing 4-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars and will be hoping that the result marks the beginning of a stronger title defence.
Port City FC will continue their impressive debut campaign when they host Bechem United at the Daasebere Boamah Darko II Park.
Basake Holy Stars will attempt to recover from their heavy defeat to Medeama when they host Berekum Chelsea at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
Aduana FC will welcome Swedru All Blacks to the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park after producing one of the weekend’s most notable results last Sunday.
At the Kpando Stadium, Heart of Lions will host FC AshantiGold ’04 in another meeting between sides coming off victories.
FC Samartex 1996 will meanwhile welcome Young Apostles FC to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, with the home side seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 would go into the annals of Ghana football as one of the darkest days for the Black Stars.
In an AFCON 2027 qualifier against The Gambia, the Black Stars did not only break the hearts of the fans, but conceded a defeat that left followers with sleepless nights.
Coming from a Matchday 1 defeat to the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake, the outcome of the second game against The Gambia was one that was non-negotiable.
It had the ability to spark a revival to contend for one of the slots for the next AFCON showpiece.
The Gambia is a formidable side but definitely, not one to have frustrated Ghanaians to watch in pain and awe the Black Stars lose a game from a winning position.
That is a possibility in the game of football but when the stakes are high in such cases, it becomes unacceptable to the fans.
And grievously has Carlos Queiroz answered the massive call for his resignation.
At his post-match press conference, he made it clear that bowing out was the easiest decision but insisted that would not solve the myriad problems facing the Black Stars.
For the coach to be fired two days after that declaration raises a lot of concerns as he seem to be aware of existing problems the FA may even not know.
Unfortunately, coaches over the years have always been sacrificial lambs in situations of this nature but when he talks about particular problems affecting the team, his sack leaves much to be desired.
That aside, it is important to also take another look at the country’s pool of players, both local and foreign based.
Some of us have been advocates for forming the Black Stars around the ever-present local players who may lack the skill, finesse and flamboyance believed to give the foreign based players the edge over their local counterparts.
The locals, however, compensate that with their commitment and dedication.
Sadly, it appears this consistent call have fallen on deaf ears and no one wants to give any attention to that.
If the fear is that results would be poor, then that would be no excuse again following outcomes of the Stars in their last two games.
From what was witnessed in Bouake and Accra, one can confidently boast that there isn’t much difference between the foreign based players and the locals.
If there is any, it would probably be the treatment given to the two sets of players.
The call on the FA now is to give major consideration to the local players. Any coach that sees no good in the local players must have no business handling the national team.
That does not also shut the door on the ‘foreigners’. We witnessed how the early 90s teams were beautifully blended to have a formidable team.
It is time the FA goes back to the basics. With the locals, there can be more camps, leading to improved cohesion. Any foreign based player invited must settle into the team quickly and make a difference. That is the only way to rescue the Black Stars from its free fall.
By Andrew Nortey
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