Ghana FA President Kurt Okraku has called for calm following the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ghana finished bottom of their group with just three points from six games, scoring only three goals in a disappointing campaign for the four-time African champions.
The Black Stars’ campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat to Niger in Accra on Monday, where West Ham star Mohammed Kudus missed a late penalty.
In his reaction, Okraku expressed deep sorrow over the team’s performance, reflecting on the sharp contrast from their high point in March 2022 when they secured a place in the World Cup.
He admitted the disappointment but insisted on the need for calm and unity as the sport’s leaders come together to address the issues.
“From the highest heights of world football on the 29th of March 2022 to the lowest ebb of Afcon qualifying matches. My heart bleeds,” he posted on Facebook.
“Definitely this is not what we want or what we bargained for. At this point, only cool heads can win and we as leaders of our sport, will stay together, be honest with ourselves and fix this problem.”
Okraku noted that while the road to recovery will be challenging, the collective effort and patience of all involved will ultimately guide Ghana back to success.
He reiterated his solidarity with the fans, stating that the team would rise from this setback.
“The road to full recovery after normalization is definitely bumpy and rough, but our collective efforts and patience will win and Ghana our beloved country will win.
“As a Black Stars fan and as the leader, I share in your pain and in our pain. We will rise from this temporary setback. It shall be well,” the statement added.
The future of head coach Otto Addo remains uncertain with the Black Stars set to return to action for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March 2025.
The Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council, which includes Okraku, will meet on Wednesday to review the team’s performances and make crucial decisions.
The post Kurt Okraku calls for calm after Black Stars’ 2025 AFCON failure first appeared on 3News.
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