Kurt Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has appealed to football fans to refrain from abusing players and instead trust the technical team with crucial decisions regarding player selection for the Black Stars.
Following disappointing performances, players often face severe criticism and abuse from fans, a trend that escalated after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
In response to such incidents, Okraku emphasized the need for fans to stand by the players, regardless of the team’s performance.
Speaking at a GFA press conference, he stated, “If we criticize our players harshly when things go wrong, we may not see the improvement we desire. That’s why I’ve always advocated for unwavering support for our players, whether in good times or bad.”
He further urged fans to trust the technical team’s expertise in handling crucial decisions related to player selection.
“Let’s leave those decisive but important decisions to the technical team to handle.”
Ghana’s disappointment at the 2023 AFCON saw them exit the tournament at the group stage after finishing third in a group featuring Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique.
Despite a spirited effort, the Black Stars fell short, recording a 2-1 loss to Cape Verde and back-to-back 2-2 draws against Egypt and Mozambique.
This marked the second consecutive tournament where Ghana exited at the group stages without a victory, extending the nation’s quest for its fifth AFCON title to 42 years.
