Sports
Fallen standard of the Black Stars
Ghana football a score ago, was a beauty and delight to watch; a gem to lay your life for and an opportunity to elevate your spirit. Times have past and fast forward, the spirit of the nation behind the famous and trusted Black Stars of Ghana has drown in the abyss of fallen standard.
Fans no longer enjoy the game of our once beloved Black Stars. Gone were the days our skeletons danced to the clamouring sounds of “vuvuzelas” at the stadium. In the midst of opposing noise, the standout language was “Black Stars, Do or Die” with a countless number the red, yellow and green colours on display in every corner of the country.
Indeed, Ghana owes gratitude to likes of Tony Yeboah, Abedi Pele, Shamo Quaye, Sammy Kuffuor, just to mention a few. These are the legends who committed themselves even without inducement making sure that, Ghana had its name written in the historical books of the African biggest tournament – African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the world at large.
If we recall the Black Stars’ history, the last time the Stars won a trophy was in the year 1982. Subsequently, Black Stars have succeeded in qualifying to the AFCON many times, but failed to bring the trophy home unlike the Pharaohs of Egypt with whom they once upon a time rocked shoulders with on the continent.
African exploit
The Stars have successfully won four times the biggest tournament in Africa. The story started in 1963 – that was the fourth edition of the AFCON as Ghana hosted. They eventually made it to the finals to face Sudan on home soil. Goodness dawned on the Stars with a three-goal margin to lift the first trophy. Afterwards, the winning spirit settled on the Stars in the next edition of the tournament in 1965 making it, a back-to-back.
Preceding that, the Pharaohs of Egypt won the trophy twice; the first and second editions of the tournament to become the first country to win it twice in a row. It was a tie between the Stars and the Pharaohs until Ghana broke the tie with two more trophies in 1978 and 1982.
I am very sure the cheering hearts at the time believed the Black Stars would remain the leading nation in the AFCON. It is rather unfortunate that, since the last trophy won in 1982, Black Stars is yet to lift a trophy. However, the Pharaohs have managed to lift it five more times making it a record seven times including the ones they won in three consecutive editions (2006, 2008, and 2010). Painfully, the last trophy the Egyptians celebrated on the African stage was an encounter with the Black Stars in Angola.
As if that was not enough, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon never tasted Africa glory when Ghana last lifted its fourth trophy; however, history now remembers Cameroon as the second most successful on the Continent of Africa after lifting it five times. Nigeria, a West Africa neighbour is breathing on the neck of Ghana with a trophy to equal Ghana; even though it also won none as at the time the Black Stars won it for the fourth time.
It must be well noted that, the Black Stars is in history the worst performing country at the AFCON finals, having lost the final five times. Ghana lost to Congo (Kinshasa), Sudan, and Egypt in 1968, 1970 and 2010 respectively; they also lost to West African neighbours La Cote d’ Ivoire in 1992 and 2015 on penalties. In effect, all two trophies won by “Les Elephants De La Cote d’ Ivoire” came at the hands of the Stars.
Exploit of local players
The Stars have tasted some sweet feet in football in Africa. The likes of Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah and Sammy Kuffor made history for Ghana. In the 1960s down to late 2000s, the Stars were dominated by locally talented players such as Dodoo Ankrah, Ernest Joe De Graft, Addo Odametey, Atta Kwame, Charles Taylor and several others. These players were dominating in the local league; they played for Real Republicans (which dissolved in 1966), Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko. They were equally good as the Pharaohs unlike the recent Black Stars.
Nowadays, we had and have big names who play in some of the top football leagues in the world – English Premier League, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and others, yet, trophies fail to smile at us. The golden generation of the Black Stars with Stars such as Asamoah Gyan, Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Richard Kingson, John Mensah, Samuel Adjei, Dede Ayew and other international league players failed to win a single trophy. Imagine, when Black Stars was dominated by locally talented players, they won trophies so the acclaimed international players could have done better than that.
Look at the Pharaohs, even in the 21st century, you can count the number of players who played abroad in their national team. It seems they believe in their “home-made” players than those abroad. Players such as Mohammed Hany, Zizo, Afsha, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Abu Treika played in their local league. They played the likes of Zamalek, Al Ahly and Pyramids equivalent to our local such Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko and other teams in the Ghana Premier League.
The patriotic spirit that elevated Black Stars into the memory of African football and the world seems to be in exchange for some foreign “papers with numbers” on them. The cheering spirits have significantly faded. The “street love” for the Black Stars has washed away.
There is a high possibility that if individuals who are fortunate to manage the Stars revisit the ancient way of selecting players “sankofa yenkyi”, Black Stars will rise again to resurrect the “street love” for Ghana football.
BY FRANCIS ELORM AGUDU
THE Ghana Premier League (GPL) enters another exciting weekend with Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC set for a crucial showdown while Accra Hearts of Oak seek to strengthen their title challenge and FC AshantiGold 04 begin life after the departure of Coach Abdul Karim Zito.
The Matchday 9 fixtures, scheduled for today and tomorrow, promise another round of compelling contests as clubs battle for early season supremacy, continental ambitions and stability.
The headline fixture is the meeting between the Porcupine Warriors and the Mauve and Yellow at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow where both sides will be eager to make a statement.
Kotoko will have the advantage of home support but the Tarkwa-based side are expected to provide a stern test for the Porcupine Warriors.
The Kumasi giants have endured an inconsistent opening to the campaign, with their recent results highlighting the need for greater consistency if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
Their 1-1 draw with FC AshantiGold 04 in the previous fixture underlined the difficulties they have faced in turning competitive performances into maximum points.
Against Medeama, the Reds must combine defensive discipline with greater attacking efficiency. Playing before their home supporters could provide the necessary lift, but they would need to avoid giving the visitors opportunities to exploit any defensive lapses.
Medeama, meanwhile, will travel to Kumasi determined to demonstrate why they are among the teams expected to challenge for the title.
For both clubs, victory would offer more than three points. It would provide an important psychological boost and strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive title race.
Hearts of Oak will also be among the teams attracting considerable attention as they travel to face Debibi United tomorrow.
The Phobians have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, with their defensive solidity and growing confidence giving supporters reasons to believe that a sustained title challenge is possible.
Their 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, secured through Martin Karikari’s late strike, strengthened their position at the summit of the league after eight matches. The result also extended their winning run to three matches.
However, maintaining that momentum away from home will be another test of their credentials.
Debibi United will be determined to frustrate the visitors and use home advantage to their benefit.
Hearts must, therefore, approach the encounter with patience and discipline, particularly if their opponents adopt a compact defensive approach.
With the standings still capable of changing significantly at this early stage, maximum points could help Hearts consolidate their position at the top or reclaim it, depending on the results of their closest challengers.
Another major talking point is the decision by FC AshantiGold 04 to part ways with Head Coach and Technical Director, Abdul Karim Zito, Assistant Coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer, Robert Dabo.
The development comes as AshantiGold prepare to visit Swedru All Blacks tomorrow, presenting an immediate test for the club’s caretaker technical team.
The question is whether the coaching changes will produce the desired reaction or further unsettle a side still searching for consistency.
Swedru All Blacks, who will enjoy home advantage, will be keen to capitalise on any disruption within the visitors’ camp.
Elsewhere, Aduana FC would host Berekum Chelsea in a potentially tight contest, while Basake Holy Stars welcome Dreams FC.
Heart of Lions will face Bechem United, and Samartex take on Bibiani Gold Stars in another intriguing fixture. Vision FC will meet Port City today, while Young Apostles host Karela United tomorrow.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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THE 24th edition of the Accra Seniors Tennis Open Championship, organised by the Accra Lawn Tennis Club, is scheduled to take place from Monday, November 23 to Saturday, December 5, 2026, organisers have announced.
Consequently, registration for the tournament has opened, offering professional and amateur players an opportunity to participate in the competition that assembles the best of the aged in the tennis fraternity.
Registration will close on Friday, November 20, 2026, with the draw and viewing for the competition scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, respectively.
Entry fees have been pegged at GH¢150 for the singles event and GH¢200 for the doubles event.
Matches will be played on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The competition will feature various categories, including ladies’ singles, men’s singles, ladies’ doubles, men’s doubles, advanced social singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.
In the ladies’ singles event, players will compete in different age categories, including those aged up to 39 years.
The men’s singles event will feature players in the 25–34, 35–44 and 55–64 age categories.
For the ladies’ doubles event, participants will compete in the under-40 and 40-and-above categories, while the men’s doubles event will feature players aged 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–69 and 70 years and above.
The advanced social singles and doubles categories, for both men and women, are designed for high-level amateur players seeking competitive matches outside the demands of professional and semi-professional circuits.
The mixed doubles event will also provide an opportunity for players to compete in combined male and female pairings.
The tournament is expected to attract players of different ages and skill levels, with spectators anticipated to witness exciting displays of skill, technique and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
By Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
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