President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has disclosed that the Executive Council was compelled to take difficult decisions following the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana, four-time winners of the continental championship, missed out on the tournament which will be hosted in Morocco later this year for the first time in more than two decades.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show on Friday, October 24, Mr Okraku explained that the GFA leadership had to act decisively in response to the setback.
“The Executive Council met and made tough decisions to change things around the Black Stars because we engaged stakeholders before arriving at the final decision, and over time, we have been justified.
He added that the team’s recent performances show significant improvement.
“The Black Stars went through a series of qualifications, and we are scoring goals, which proves that the Black Stars have improved, and it also shows that we were honest in dealing with the issues.”
Mr Okraku further admitted that he took personal responsibility for the team’s failure to qualify.
“I owned up after failing to qualify for the AFCON.”
Despite the disappointment, the Black Stars have turned their fortunes around in 2025, securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghana will learn their group-stage opponents for the World Cup on December 5.
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