Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko Board Chairman and President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, has criticized football administrators for their role in the Black Stars’ recent struggles, including their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In an interview with Elton Brobbey, Mensah expressed frustration over the lack of effective systems and coordination within Ghanaian football, highlighting this as a key factor in the national team’s poor performances.
“You would have noticed it even with Niger and Sudan,” Mensah said. “You’re not seeing stars in the top Bundesliga clubs, Premier League, or La Liga, but what you have are people playing with a system that makes sense, and they are playing in a coordinated fashion that makes sense.”
Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco marks the first time in 20 years the nation will miss the continental championship. The Black Stars finished bottom of Group F, managing just three points from six matches without a single win.
Mensah criticized football administrators for their inability to create an effective system, noting their tendency to offer excuses for failures rather than taking accountability.
“What is it about our administrators that puts a system together which, when it fails, they still have the guts to come and make excuses that nobody in their right mind would accept?” he questioned.
The veteran sports administrator also lamented Ghana’s declining status as a sporting nation, pointing out failures in football and other disciplines as evidence of a broader systemic issue.
“Ghana is no longer a great sporting nation,” Mensah stated, emphasizing the need for leadership reforms to revive the country’s once-dominant position in sports.
Mensah’s comments come amid growing calls for restructuring within the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following the national team’s underwhelming performances on the continental and global stages.
