Former Sports Minister Urges Forgiveness for Black Stars After AFCON Failure
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Ghana’s former Youth and Sports Minister, has appealed to the nation to show leniency towards the Black Stars following their disappointing failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The team ended their qualification journey at the bottom of Group F with only three points from six matches, recording three draws and three losses. This setback marks the first time in two decades that Ghana will miss the AFCON, which will be held in Morocco next year.
Despite growing calls for drastic changes in the team's technical staff and player lineup, Afriyie Ankrah, during an interview on GHOne TV, stressed the importance of national forgiveness. He referenced the unresolved tensions from the 2014 World Cup, suggesting that the aftermath of that event still casts a shadow over the national team. "As a country, we never actually exorcised the issues that arose during the 2014 World Cup," he said, highlighting that the core problems were overshadowed by media coverage of the controversies. He urged Ghanaians to release any lingering resentment, believing that the country must collectively move forward to rebuild the Black Stars.
Afriyie Ankrah also noted a troubling disconnect between the national team and the public. He mentioned the coach’s comments attributing part of the team's struggles to a perceived lack of support and hostility from Ghanaians. This sentiment, according to Afriyie Ankrah, was evident when Mohammed Kudus faced chants of "away, away" while preparing for a penalty. He emphasized that every nation has a "soul" and called for unity, both on and off the field, to support the team’s future endeavors. As the Black Stars turn their attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, starting in March 2025 with matches against Chad and Madagascar, the former minister believes forgiveness and solidarity are crucial for the team’s reviewival.
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