Sports
Time to change direction, GFA
That Ghana football has been on the decline for many years now is no secret; it is like stating what is obvious to every follower of the game.
It is a situation the blind can see; the deaf can hear about and even a person suffering a speech impairment (Mutism) can utter something about.
What is, however, not known is exactly when Ghana’s enviable ‘birth right’ as a continental super power in football was lost.
The degeneration did not start today. It started many years ago under the supervision or the watchful eyes of the same stakeholders that called themselves ‘football people.’
Together with other stakeholders that carve a living out of this game that brought joy and happiness to many homes when clubs or the national teams perform excellently at the international stage, the game of football in Ghana has been brought to its knees through certain actions and inactions.
It is no longer appealing to the ordinary Ghanaian soccer fan again and that may best explain why the craze for the typical ‘agoro’ soccer identified with Ghanaian teams, has lost its appeal not only at the continental level but the world at large.
Gone were the days when Ghana was guaranteed two slots each in the now christened Confederation of African Football (CAF) Clubs Champions League and Confederations Cup tournament.
That platform used to be a regular ‘playground’ for the nation’s traditional outfits, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko who were mostly at the forefront of Ghana’s rich club football history.
For over a decade now, that privilege has gone and does not seem to be coming soon. This is because our performance at the continental level keep sinking.
But of much concern for football administrators in the country should be the absence of Ghanaian teams in the newly introduced Africa Football League (AFL).
The maiden edition ended last two weeks with South African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns as the winners.
Teams selected for the inaugural edition include Enyimba FC (Nigeria), Wydad AC (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), and Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (Angola).
These were teams Hearts and Kotoko used to rub shoulders with.
Currently, they do not appear to be competitors at any level. While these clubs have managed to stay relevant and in the thick of affairs in their respective countries, it is not the case for Hearts and Kotoko who struggle every season with clubs that can comfortably be branded as their ‘grandchildren.’
Other representatives like Aduana Stars, Medeama SC, Dreams FC, Bechem United and others have attempted to stake a claim for Ghana but to no avail.
The winner for the inaugural edition took home a whopping amount of $4 million while the runner-up got $3 million and $1.7 million and $1 million reserved for semi-finalists and quarter-finalists, respectively. These are amounts that can change the fortunes of these clubs.
On Thursday, the African Club Association (ACA), consisting of some of Africa’s finest football clubs was launched at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo.
The ACA hopes to bring together stakeholders from across the African football landscape, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the continent’s club football scene.
Heads of these clubs are known as African Club Chairmen. They lead the formation of the ACA which objectives include protecting and promoting the interest of African football clubs, and ensuring that African football clubs were commercially viable, globally competitive and profitable.
Is it not heartbreaking for all these major interventions in African football to be happening without any mention of Ghana and any of the top clubs?
This speaks of the direction Ghana football has taken and the earlier the wheel was re-invented, the better it will be for us. Ghana needs her clubs at the pinnacle of African football.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Black Starlets arrives in Morocco on U-17 AFCON mission …FA boss charges team to make Ghana proud
The Black Starlets, the national U-17 male team, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team departed Accra on Wednesday, travelling with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.
They completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.
The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, was present at the Accra International Airport to bid farewell to the team.
Speaking during a brief farewell at the Airport, the FA President urged the team to carry a ‘never say die’ spirit into the competition.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the importance of mental strength and unity, particularly in difficult moments during matches. His message was inspired by the team’s recent friendly encounters against Cote d’Ivoire, where they bounced back strongly after an initial defeat.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Cote d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to bounce back—not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said. “I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads—that, it’s not over until it’s all over,” he added.
The FA president stressed that the ability to respond positively to setbacks would be crucial in a tournament as competitive as the AFCON.
He encouraged the players to stay united and support one another when the pressure intensifies on the continental stage.
“When the chips are down, that’s when we need to hold each other together,” Okraku added. “So go out there and make Ghana proud.”
Ghana will compete in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, with their opening match scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
Twenty-three (23) players have been called up for this month’s international friendly against Mexico.
The squad is composed of star players from the domestic league and European leagues who are closely monitored by Coach Carlos Queiroz, as well as U-23 players who will soon represent Ghana in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers.
Notable names include Majeed Ashimeru, Felix Afena-Gyan, Razak Simpson, and Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman.
Ashimeru returns to action after a long spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury that limited his appearances at both club and national level.
Also in the team is Felix Afena-Gyan, whose last appearance for Ghana was in May last year when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.
Barcelona B’s Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan of AS Saint-Étienne, Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City, and Paul Reverson of Ajax FC have also been included in the squad.
Midfielder Salim Adams, one of the key players for Ghana Premier League leaders Medeama SC, leads the group of home-based players.
Others are Heart of Lions’ Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade of Dreams FC, and Nations FC captain Razak Simpson. Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.
