Ghana’s Disappointment and South Africa’s Excellence – The Story of AFCON 2025 Qualifications

The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is always a high stakes, competitive event, but the process of qualifying has already left Ghana and South Africa with different feelings.

Whereas South Africa has had all the media attention thanks to its stellar performances, Ghana is in a tailspin of disillusionment. Since that shock of missing out, supporters, stakeholders and football fans have been asking “where did the Black Stars go?”.

Ghana’s Disappointing Campaign

There has been much activity on the part of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after the country did not get through to the AFCON 2025. As it wished to make clear, the GFA in a statement of simple self-awareness formally disbanded the Management Committee of the Senior Male National Team (aka Black Stars).

If Ghana are not in the continental tournament then that is a huge disappointment, especially given the national team’s long football history and presence in African events.

This move to dissolve the committee is part of a more comprehensive plan to rebuild and strengthen the national team. The GFA has been very clear in looking at performance and how the team is technically moving.

There will be an executive council and head coach meeting with technical presentations and evaluations to be shared. This is in reaction to this recent disappointment.

GFA has been very open about its intentions of listening to stakeholders and fans, trying to get their feedback on the restructuring. It is the end point of the project, to bring Ghanaian football back to the leading position that it once was. That doesn’t dispel the bitterness of not qualifying – which many say says something about underlying problems with the national team structure.

The Reason Why the Black Stars Didn’t Excel

It is uncanny that Ghana have not survived AFCON qualifying when they are usually considered the best team in African football. The Black Stars has been an all-around force, turning out legends and playing at the highest level for years. But this latest collapse reveals erratic play, tactical woes and maybe even underlying administrative issues.

Ghana couldn’t come up with anything when they had to. It might have been bad defending, poor midfield creativity, or poor finishing, but it was not the same group of people as other generations had. In the off-field arena, managerial and tactical woes have only escalated, and it’s possible that the poor campaign was due to poor direction.

Fans, naturally, are frustrated. Their love of the Black Stars is deep and they were eager to watch their team compete on the continental level. Rather, they wait for the answer to “when will it come back?”.

Some equate rooting for the Black stars in their current state to spinning the reels at an online casino. Many South Africans play online slots on 10bet.co.za, so I’m sure some of you will appreciate that quip.

South Africa’s Excellence Shines Through

Things might not be going well for Ghana, but South Africa have been nothing short of excellent in their qualification. Bafana Bafana, or simply Bafana, have been composed, clever, and tactically intelligent, all attributes that have made them stand up in a footballing climate where the field has never been so close.

South Africa’s success was that they adapted. They have long cultivated youngsters, mixing them with seniors. This proportion has given their play a new energy.

The GFA’s Next Move

The task now for Ghana is to go back to building and not making the same mistakes again. The GFA’s dissolution of the Management Committee is not the end of the road. If the organization has been open to hearing from stakeholders and listening to feedback, it’s a sign that things are actually changing.

The process of rebuilding Ghanaian football will not be simple. The first step is that the team must re-find itself – what it plays like best and who best plays for it. The same is true for investment in grassroots football and development to allow youth players to develop and make it to the next level.

Conclusion

Missing out on AFCON 2025 is surely a wake-up call for Ghana football. But the lesson is clear; you don’t always win on the world stage. For a team with that much history, this defeat is surprising but not irreversible. Ghana may come back even better if the GFA implements its rebuilding, stakeholder and change promises.

In the meantime, South Africa’s success reminds us of what can be achieved with the right mix of preparation, talent and hard work. Football’s a dicey game. For Ghana, it’s not the end but the beginning of taking a step back and coming to grips with reality.