Former Ghana international Dan Quaye has issued a stern warning to players of the Black Stars, emphasizing the importance of commitment when representing the national team.
Following the team's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, Quaye expressed his frustration regarding the current state of the squad.
The match, held at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya on Tuesday, has left the West African powerhouse on the brink of failing to qualify for the continent's premier tournament, set to take place in Morocco next year.
Ghana last missed out on AFCON qualification in 2004 and now faces an uphill battle to secure a spot in the upcoming tournament.
In an interview with Bryt FM on Adekyee Mu Nsem, the former Hearts of Oak defender emphasized that the blame should rest with the players rather than the coaching staff. "No one should blame the coach. We should rather blame the players because they are not serious. The players are selected based on their performance at club level, so why don’t they exhibit the same performance for the Black Stars when invited?" he questioned.
Quaye further criticized the discipline of the current squad, stating, "Truth be told, this crop of players is indisciplined, and it’s high time we address it. Players who are not ready to play for the national team can decline call-ups. I think that is better than accepting a call-up and playing anyhow, breaking the hearts of millions of Ghanaians."
He added, "We cannot blame the coach for this defeat. Our defenders were poor. We committed silly mistakes in the game, and that cost us the match. I’m highly disappointed because we can’t afford to miss out on AFCON from this group. The Sudanese played as if they were Ghana."
To keep their AFCON hopes alive, Ghana must secure victories against already-qualified Angola and Niger while relying on Sudan to falter against these same opponents.
