Former Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has expressed disappointment in the Black Stars, stating that their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) reflects a lack of quality in the team.
Ghana’s hopes of securing a place in the tournament, set to take place in Morocco, were dashed following a 1-1 draw against Angola at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Friday.
Despite Jordan Ayew’s stunning first-half free-kick that gave the Black Stars an early lead, Angola equalized through Zini’s header in the second half, ending Ghana’s chances of qualification. The result came after Niger’s emphatic 4-0 win over Sudan, which left Ghana needing a victory to keep their hopes alive.
Speaking on Akoma FM, Agyemang-Badu criticized the team’s performance, emphasizing that they were not up to the standard required to compete at the AFCON.
“Our team lacked the quality to qualify for the AFCON. Our problems started long ago, and the funny aspect is that we celebrate mediocrity and deceive ourselves into thinking the team is okay after winning a game. I nearly cried yesterday,” he remarked.
With only three points from five games, Ghana is out of contention in the qualifiers. They will conclude their campaign with a home fixture against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
