Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has opened up about the pain and disappointment of the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, calling it the lowest point of his tenure.
For the first time in 20 years, Ghana will not feature at the continent’s biggest football tournament, set to take place in Morocco later this year, a setback that has fuelled intense criticism of the GFA’s management and the team’s overall direction.
Speaking candidly on Asempa FM, Okraku reflected on the emotional toll of the setback, admitting it struck a personal chord given the reforms and rebuilding efforts he has overseen since assuming leadership of Ghana football in 2019.
“When I took over in 2019, there was one phrase that I used, which was that the road ahead of us would be tough, but by the mercies of God, we would get through. I knew the state of football when I took over after our internal analysis. At that time, there was no football, so our responsibility at that time was to resurrect football and by doing that, we knew we could not win all games, but what shocked me was the level we descended to,” he noted.
Kurt Okraku: Only true patriots will wear the Black Stars jersey
Okraku acknowledged that the Black Stars’ recent performances at major tournaments, particularly the underwhelming campaigns in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, had already raised concerns, but missing the Morocco edition altogether was especially crushing.
“We played AFCON in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, and we did not perform. Last year, we did not qualify for the AFCON in Morocco, and that was perhaps my lowest footballing career, thinking that we would participate in the AFCON. As leaders, we came together to find solutions to the challenge because at the end of the day, it is not only about qualifying for the AFCON but performing at all levels,” he stated.
Despite the heartbreak, Okraku struck a note of optimism, pointing to Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as evidence that the team is regaining its competitive edge.
According to him, the World Cup ticket represents a glimmer of hope, and a reminder that the rebuilding of Ghana football, while painful at times, is still on course.
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