The Ghana Football Association's (GFA) Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, has identified the Black Stars' home defeat to Angola as the critical turning point in their failed bid to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Black Stars suffered a 1-0 loss to Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium during the qualifiers, a rare setback on home soil. According to Asante Twum, this defeat severely derailed Ghana's qualification hopes.
“It has been extremely difficult to understand what happened in our first loss at home against Angola,” Asante Twum told Asempa FM. “I told a lot of people that losing at home to Angola is what prevented us from qualifying.”
The defeat highlighted the increasing competitiveness of African football, where away victories are hard to come by, making home performances crucial in qualifiers.
“The African game has reached a point where it is extremely difficult to win your away games,” Asante Twum explained. “The most important thing in qualifiers is to try to win your home games.”
### A Campaign to Forget
Ghana, four-time AFCON champions, endured a dismal qualification campaign, failing to win any of their six matches. They lost three games and drew three, finishing bottom of Group F with just three points.
The Black Stars’ final qualifier, a 2-1 defeat to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium, sealed their fate and sparked widespread disappointment among fans. This marks the first time in 20 years that Ghana has failed to qualify for the AFCON, the last instance being in 2004.
### Looking Ahead
With their AFCON hopes dashed, the Black Stars now turn their attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, the team's poor performance in recent months has raised significant concerns about their readiness to compete at the highest level.
Ghana will need a major overhaul to rebuild confidence and restore their reputation as one of Africa’s football powerhouses. Fans and stakeholders alike are demanding accountability and a clear path forward for the national team.
