The Black Stars of Ghana, the once darling and dreaded team of Africa disappointed many Ghanaian football fans when they lost two zero to Sudan in the 2025 African Cup of nations qualifying match played in Libya.
After drawing the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium where thousands met to watch the Stars game live in Accra after many years, there was hope of beating Sudan.
Coach Otto Addo said Sudan were lucky in the first leg, but it turned out to be a disaster when captain Mohammed Kudus spotting the number 10 jersey and his colleagues failed to glitter in the second leg.
Sudan who are managed by former Black Stars captain and coach Kwesi Appiah played wonderful football to defeat Ghana simply.
The defeat shocked many Ghanaians and it proves that Ghana football is now down. It confirms that losing or drawing to Comoros, Mozambique. Cape Verde, Kenya, Niger, Angola and other low placed teams since the 2014 World Cup is no fluke.
People are calling for heads to roll at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
While some fans blame the technical staff, others say it is spiritual, for others political and lack of commitment by the players.
It is very interesting to note that after the African Cup qualifier, when the players went to their respective clubs, Inaki Williams who started and failed to score against Sudan had a brace for Athletico Bilbao. Jordan Ayew also scored for Leicester City while Fatawu Issahaku had a great game offering an assist and winning man of the match. The star boy Mohammed Kudus of West Ham also scored his 10th Premiership goal, but was given a red card for fighting and flooring Tottenham players.
The Black Stars now have only two points from four games with Angola on the road to qualify for the 2025 African Cup of nations.
For the records Ghana has won the African Cup four times, the last in 1982 and represented Africa at the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022.
Ghana has also produced some of the best and most exciting players on the African continental, like Wilberforce Nfum, Baba Yara, Osei Kofi. Jones Attuquatefio, Malik Jabir, Kwasi Owusu, Awuley Quaye, Adolf Armah. George Alhassan, Mohammed Polo, Abedi Pele Ayew, Abdul Razak, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, Thomas Partey, Kudus Mohammed and many others.
The current generation of Ghanaians has not felt how it is to win a major trophy like the African Cup.
Youth football which Ghana dominated has also gone down. The nation won the World Under 17 championships in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
Ghana also became the first Africa nation to lift the World Youth (Under 20) World Cup in 2019 lead by Andre Ayew who is on the verge of retiring from international football. Ghana was runners up at the world youth tournament in 1993 and 1997.
Since 2014, after Ghana shocked the world by monetising football, the national fortunes have been dwindling.
While some people say the current sports minister is the worst, others say the current FA president is the most disappointing because this is the period Ghana has dropped down in the FIFA Coca-Cola ranking.
Missing the next FIFA World Cup in USA / Canada / Mexico 2026 is starring at the Black Stars and they have to change gear, style and attitude to come back on track.
In the last five years, the country has had several coaches and it has been the worse performances.
The question is can the Black Stars shine again?
By Sammy Heywood Okine
