Alhaji Raji, the former Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), has expressed concerns about the Black Stars’ performance, attributing it to the lack of consistency in player selection. His remarks come after Ghana’s shocking failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which marked the team’s first absence from the tournament in twenty years. The Black Stars finished at the bottom of Group F with just three points after drawing three matches and losing the other three. Despite this disappointing result, Raji believes the overall state of football in Ghana is not in crisis, but rather that the primary issue lies with the Black Stars’ inconsistent team selections under head coach Otto Addo.
Raji pointed out that one of the reasons for the Black Stars’ struggles is the continuous rotation of players in the squad, which hinders team cohesion and performance. He noted that successful national teams typically rely on a stable core group of players, but the Black Stars have failed to establish such consistency. The frequent changes in the squad under Addo’s leadership have disrupted the team’s ability to develop chemistry and cohesion, which has ultimately affected their on-field results. While teams around the world benefit from consistency, the Black Stars have faced challenges due to their ever-changing lineups. This has led to an inconsistent performance record, as seen in their failure to progress in recent tournaments, including their early exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Although the Black Stars' results have been disappointing, Raji is not entirely pessimistic about the state of Ghanaian football. He emphasized that, while the senior men’s team is struggling, other areas of the sport are progressing, particularly the women’s teams. He acknowledged the pressure on Otto Addo following the Black Stars' AFCON failure but maintained that the coach would likely remain in his role for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar in March. Raji believes that addressing the issue of squad consistency could be key to improving the Black Stars' performances moving forward. The focus should be on building a stable team with core players who can form a solid foundation for future success. Ultimately, Raji's call for stability in player selections highlights the need for a more cohesive and structured approach to Ghana’s national football teams.
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