Henry Asante Twum, Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has described the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as “painful.”
Speaking on Sporty FM on Tuesday, Asante Twum reflected on the disappointment of missing the continental tournament for the first time in 20 years.
“It’s a mixed feeling to miss out on AFCON qualification, especially when teams like Botswana are there. It felt very painful,” he said.
The AFCON draw, held on Monday, January 27, in Rabat, Morocco, revealed the tournament groupings for qualified teams. Unfortunately, Ghana’s absence means the four-time African champions will not feature in the competition.
Despite the setback, Asante Twum defended the decision to retain head coach Otto Addo, acknowledging that challenges were anticipated when he was appointed.
“Based on results, one could easily say Otto Addo shouldn’t remain, but before his appointment, it was made clear there would be tough times ahead,” he explained.
With the AFCON dream dashed, the Black Stars now shift their focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which resume in March. Ghana will aim to redeem themselves by securing a spot at the global tournament.
