Ace sports Journalist, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has expressed his thoughts on why he thinks Ghana did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Black Stars failed to qualify for the AFCON 2025 after the draw between Angola and Sudan, which propelled Sudan into the AFCON ahead of Niger in the group.
Speaking on THE GAME, the ace sports analyst pointed out that one of the key reasons for the failure of the team was how the team underestimated the teams in the group.
“It could have been this underlying, overconfidence and we probably underestimated Sudan and Niger in particular and that goes right across you and I, as I said, the media, the GFA, You heard the comments from the GFA president, Kurt Okraku, where he actually compared some of the Niger players to his team, So that shows you the kind of disrespect we gave to our opponents, or at least to Niger. In the end, Niger came to Ghana, to beat the Black Stars in their own backyard. So perhaps that mentality would have to change going forward”.
Ampofo Ankrah further acknowledged the potential dangers of underestimated opponents, highlighting politics within the FA, and issues with captaincy, call-ups, and posturings.
“Especially with the World Cup qualifiers coming up where people are still saying without a doubt we should qualify because we should be able to take care of Comoros and Madagascar and even Mali because we’ve beaten Mali away from home. That could be very dangerous”.
“But I think we may have underestimated our opponents and also the politics in the FA and within the team, issues with captaincy, call-ups and a few posturings, the coach, FA and some of the players. I think these are lessons that if we don’t learn quickly, we could also miss out on the World Cup qualification” Ampofo Ankrah told GHOne TV.
The Black Stars, who are second in Group I with nine points, are set to face Chad and Madagascar in their next qualifying matches as they aim to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Christian Kobby Quarshie
