Black Stars Management Committee Chairman, Dr Randy Abbey, has admitted that Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) remains a painful setback, describing the World Cup qualification as the “least” the team could do to make amends.
For the first time in over 20 years, the Black Stars missed out on Africa’s flagship football tournament after finishing bottom of their qualifying group with just three points from six matches.
However, the team redeemed itself by topping Group I of the World Cup qualifiers with 25 points to book a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show following the qualification, Dr Abbey expressed mixed emotions, disappointment over the AFCON miss but relief at the team’s response.
“The team had disappointed Ghanaians by not qualifying for the AFCON,” he said.
“You can’t cry over spilt milk; you can’t reverse it; you cannot change it.
“But fortunately, [there was] another major engagement, and if for nothing at all, the disappointment [of not qualifying for AFCON], the least you can do is to at least qualify for the World Cup,” Dr Abbey added.
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on December 5 in Washington, D.C., where Ghana will discover their group-stage opponents.
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