“The Black Stars’ challenges are not normal” – Former GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi has expressed concerns over the Black Stars’ poor performances in recent years, describing the decline as “not normal.”

Ghana’s senior national team has endured a string of disappointing results, managing only one win in their last nine tournament games.

At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the four-time champions suffered a shocking group-stage exit, failing to secure a single win for the first time in the competition’s history. The struggles continued at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Ghana managed one victory but still finished bottom of their group.

The downward trajectory persisted during the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, with another winless group-stage elimination. The team’s woes were further compounded by their failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, marking the first time in 20 years that Ghana will miss the continental showpiece.

In the qualifiers, Ghana recorded three draws and three defeats, leaving them without a win in six games and bottom of their group.

Reflecting on this decline, Nyantakyi, who also served on FIFA’s Executive Council, suggested that changes in coaching and management could be contributing factors.

“The Black Stars’ challenges are not normal,” he told Kumasi-based Lawson FM. “Maybe when I was in charge, I was doing things differently. If you look at the coaches who handled the Black Stars then, it’s not the same as today.”

Looking ahead, the Black Stars will aim for redemption in March 2025 when they face Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.