Agyemang-Badu Attributes Black Stars’ Decline to Lack of Transition Plan
Former Ghanaian international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has identified the absence of a structured transition system as the major factor behind the struggles of the Black Stars and other national teams. Speaking in an interview with TV3, he highlighted that Ghana’s recent failures in major tournaments, including the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, stem from an ineffective player progression system. The situation worsened when Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, marking the first such failure in 20 years. Agyemang-Badu emphasized that this issue extends beyond the senior team, as the Black Starlets, Black Meteors, and Black Galaxies have also struggled to replicate past successes.
Drawing comparisons with his playing era, Agyemang-Badu explained that Ghana’s youth teams previously had a seamless transition into the senior squad. He recalled that the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup-winning team, led by coach Sellas Tetteh, saw several players promoted to the Black Stars. “Back in our time, players like Ransford Osei, Sadiq Adams, and others progressed together. They joined us, and when we won the U-20 World Cup, seven of us were selected for the 2010 AFCON,” he stated. He pointed out that this ensured continuity, as older players gradually phased out while younger ones took over, strengthening the national team. However, he lamented that such a transition is no longer happening, leading to a stagnation of talent development at all levels. He cited the current U-20 squad, where only Jerry Afriyie has managed to break into the Black Stars setup, as an example of the growing gap in player progression.
Agyemang-Badu called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and stakeholders to establish better structures to integrate youth players into the senior national team. He stressed that consistent player development is essential for Ghana to regain its dominance in African football. Without a proper system in place, he warned that the struggles of the Black Stars and other national teams would persist. His comments have reignited discussions on the need for a long-term strategy to rebuild Ghanaian football, ensuring a steady flow of talent for future competitions.
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