Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has set a strict benchmark for the Black Stars, insisting that the team must at least reach the quarter-finals of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) or risk being judged as underperforming.
His comments come amid growing concern over Ghana’s recent decline on the continental stage, including failure to qualify for AFCON 2025—the nation’s first absence in over two decades—and back-to-back group-stage exits in previous tournaments.
Speaking on Sports to GhanaWeb TV, Adams stressed that Ghana’s football pedigree demands higher standards and consistent progress.
“Considering our name and pedigree, anything below the quarter-finals means it would have been better if we hadn’t gone. For AFCON, anything below the quarter-final stage is unacceptable,” he stated.
He further emphasized the responsibility on the national team to represent the country’s legacy with pride.
“We must set a standard and let the players know the flag they are holding,” he added.
With qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON yet to begin, focus is already shifting toward rebuilding a competitive squad capable of restoring Ghana’s status among Africa’s elite.
