The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has admitted that the Black Stars' performance during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers fell short of expectations.
For the first time in 20 years, Ghana’s senior national team will miss out on the AFCON tournament after finishing last in Group F with just three points. The team recorded three draws and three losses in six games, a campaign that has drawn widespread criticism and calls for the dissolution of both the playing and technical teams.
Speaking on Joy FM’s News File, Asante Twum candidly assessed the team’s performance, describing it as below par and uncharacteristic of Ghana’s footballing pedigree.
"The Black Stars' performance in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers was not good enough, and I admit that," he said. "This is not the standard of the Black Stars because, in previous qualifiers, with two games or even a game to spare, we had already secured qualification."
He highlighted key moments where the team faltered, particularly in matches against Angola and Sudan.
"When we lost against Angola, I knew it could come back to haunt us. In Kumasi against Angola and probably against Sudan in Accra, we were simply not good enough. The players needed to win key games and pick points on the road, but that didn’t happen. Injuries and panic also set in, making things worse," he explained.
Asante Twum added that while there was a mathematical chance for qualification at one point, the team failed to capitalize on opportunities to secure necessary results.
The failure to qualify for AFCON has led to intense scrutiny of the GFA, with the Executive Council set to make a decision on head coach Otto Addo's future during a meeting on Wednesday.
Despite the disappointment, the Black Stars will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March 2025, starting with matches against Chad and Madagascar.
