President Akufo-Addo has expressed his bewilderment over Ghana’s underperformance in recent tournaments despite the abundance of talent in the country.
In the past two major competitions, the Black Stars were unable to progress beyond the first round, exiting at the group stages of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January 2022 and the 2022 World Cup in December of the same year.
This disappointing run followed a round of 16 exit at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
During a meeting with the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of providing the team with the best preparation for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, set to commence in 23 days in Ivory Coast.
“As an avid football fan, I am very much aware of the challenges that confront us, as results have not been good in recent games. But you can count on me for the necessary support,” stated the President. “We have some very good talents scattered across the globe, so I don’t understand why we shouldn’t perform in tournaments.”
President Akufo-Addo reminded the GFA President and his colleagues about the significance of football to Ghanaians, urging them to ensure the sport is on the right path.
With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaching, he emphasized the responsibility of providing the technical team and players with the necessary support for success in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.
“Ghanaians are obsessed with football, and you have the mandate of ensuring that our game is on the right path. We have the Africa Cup of Nations in a few days, and it is our responsibility to give the technical team and the playing body the needed support to succeed in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire.
“It’s been forty-one years since Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations. If my memory serves me right, we have played in a couple of finals in recent times and lost on penalties in 2015. Expectations are very high, so let’s do our best to make this tournament a success.”