The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has disbanded the Management Committee of the Black Stars following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana’s campaign ended in disappointment, with the team finishing last in Group F with only three points. This marks the first time in 21 years that the Black Stars have failed to qualify for the tournament, deepening concerns about the team’s performance after consecutive group-stage exits in previous competitions.
In a press release dated Thursday, November 21, 2024, the GFA issued an apology to Ghanaians, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wishes to express its sincerest apologies to the good people of Ghana for the Black Stars’ inability to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. We understand the disappointment and frustration this failure has caused, and we share in the pain and sadness of our beloved fans. We acknowledge that the team’s performance did not meet the high expectations of the nation, and for that, we are truly sorry.”
In addressing the setback, the GFA confirmed the immediate dissolution of the Black Stars’ Management Committee:
“The Executive Council, at its meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, took the following key decisions:
Immediate dissolution of the Management Committee of the senior national football team, the Black Stars.
We sincerely thank the members of the Committee for their service to Ghana Football over the years,” the statement read.
Additionally, the GFA announced a meeting with Head Coach Otto Addo on November 27, 2024, to evaluate his technical report on the qualifiers and assess the overall performance of the technical team since his appointment.
Amid calls for sweeping reforms, the GFA plans to hold a retreat on November 28, 2024, at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence. The retreat aims to solicit input from key stakeholders to devise a roadmap for revitalizing the Black Stars and improving the performance of other national teams.
Stakeholders such as the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), former players, coaches, supporters, the National Sports Authority, and professionals from various sectors will be invited to the retreat.
The GFA expressed hope that these collective efforts will chart a new course for the national team and restore the pride of Ghanaian football.