Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has criticised GFA President Kurt Okraku for describing the Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign as a success, insisting that reaching the Round of 32 should not be considered a major achievement for Ghana.
The Black Stars advanced beyond the group stage for the first time since 2010 before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32. While Okraku praised the team’s performance, Afriyie believes Ghana should be aiming much higher.
“I was shocked when I listened to the FA president [Kurt Okraku] saying we have done well,” Afriyie said on Adom TV.
He questioned why qualifying for the knockout stage was being celebrated, given Ghana’s football history.
“Why do we have an FA president who thinks that qualifying out of the group to the Round of 32 is an achievement? I’m so shocked,” he added.
Afriyie also criticised Okraku’s leadership, suggesting the GFA president lacked sufficient experience when he assumed office.
“He was a fresher. He needed to take his time to go through the ranks to learn. I think he thought that he had arrived, but he wasn’t,” Afriyie stated.
The Black Stars will now shift their focus to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, where they have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia.
