Former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to conduct a thorough analysis of Ghanaian football following the Black Stars' failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Appiah, who led Sudan to qualify for the tournament at Ghana’s expense by finishing second in Group F, expressed disappointment over the Black Stars’ missed opportunity but emphasized the need for introspection within the GFA.
"It's really unfortunate because everybody thought Ghana would have qualified," Appiah told the BBC. "The entire FA needs to sit down, analyse, and check what is really going on."
Reflecting on his own journey, Appiah highlighted the challenges of managing professional responsibilities and national expectations.
"In 2014, I was taking Ghana to the World Cup in Brazil, and I made a statement that football is coming of age," he noted. "As an Executive Committee member of the Ghana FA, I had to step aside when Ghana was in the same group as Sudan due to a conflict of interest. Once you're a professional, you focus on your job. If Ghana isn't stepping up, there's little I can do from my role."
Appiah, who ensured Sudan’s qualification, defended his commitment to professionalism. "I need to be 100% professional and make sure the country I'm coaching qualifies for either AFCON or the World Cup."
He also sympathized with current Black Stars head coach Otto Addo, acknowledging the immense pressure that comes with the role.
"Ghana is like England. If England doesn’t qualify for Europe or the World Cup, it’s a big, big issue," Appiah said. "When you take that job, you must handle the added pressure. Ghana not going to AFCON is a very big deal."
Appiah's call for introspection comes as fans and stakeholders grapple with the implications of Ghana’s failure to secure a place at AFCON 2025.
