Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed his disappointment over the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), calling it a “national embarrassment.”
Speaking during his campaign tour of the Eastern Region, Mahama decried the team’s inability to secure a spot in the upcoming AFCON tournament, which will be held in Morocco. Ghana, four-time AFCON champions, struggled throughout the qualification process, finishing at the bottom of Group F with only three points from six games—losing three and drawing three.
“For the first time in 20 years, the Black Stars will miss the AFCON, and it’s an embarrassment to us as a nation,” Mahama stated. “The Black Stars have always participated in the AFCON, but now we’re seeing a complete collapse. This is painful, especially considering the high level of play we were accustomed to.”
Mahama further emphasized Ghana’s historical strength in the tournament, pointing out that while the team has not won the AFCON since 1982, they had consistently reached the finals. He added, “Years ago, we were playing at the highest level. Ghanaians were proud of our football, but the narrative has changed now.”
This failure marks the first time in two decades that Ghana has missed the continental showpiece, with their last absence from the AFCON dating back to 2004.
Looking ahead, Mahama noted that the Black Stars will now focus on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will begin next year.
