President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has described Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the lowest point in his football administration career.
For the first time in over two decades, the Black Stars will miss out on Africa’s premier football competition, set to be hosted in Morocco later this year. The setback drew heavy criticism from fans and pundits, who blamed the GFA for the team’s disappointing campaign.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Mr Okraku reflected on the painful episode, recalling the challenges he faced since assuming office in 2019.
“When I took over in 2019, there was one phrase that I used, which was that the road ahead of us would be tough, but by the mercies of God, we would get through,” he said.
“I knew the state of football when I took over after our internal analysis. At that time, there was no football, so our responsibility at that time was to resurrect football and by doing that, we knew we could not win all games, but what shocked me was the level we descended to.
Okraku admitted that Ghana’s poor showings at the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments, followed by the failure to qualify for the 2025 edition, represented a major blow to his leadership.
“We played AFCON in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, and we did not perform. Last year, we did not qualify for the AFCON in Morocco, and that was perhaps my lowest footballing career, thinking that we would participate in the AFCON.
Despite the disappointment, the GFA president expressed optimism about the future, emphasizing that the association is focused on long-term improvement.
“As leaders, we came together to find solutions to the challenge because at teh end of the day, it is not only about qualifying for the AFCON but performing at all levels,” he added.
While the Black Stars will miss the upcoming continental showpiece, they have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, offering fans a renewed sense of hope.
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