Former Ghana international Augustine Ahinful has directly blamed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which saw the team finish their six-match qualifying campaign with a dismal record of three draws and three defeats.
Speaking to Joy Sports, Ahinful argued that the GFA did not hire the best possible coaches for the national team, which he believes was a critical oversight that contributed significantly to the qualification miss. He questioned the GFA’s decisions, stating that had they hired the right coaches and established “proper structures,” the team likely would have qualified.
While acknowledging that current head coach Otto Addo is competent, Ahinful criticized his overly cautious and defensive approach, particularly when playing at home. He pointed out that Addo consistently fields two defensive midfielders regardless of the venue, suggesting that while this might be appropriate for away games, the team must adopt a more offensive strategy when playing on home soil.
Following the team’s elimination, which left Ghana at the bottom of their group for the first time since 2004, the GFA’s Executive Council recently held a lengthy meeting but has yet to announce a final decision regarding the increasingly scrutinized future of Otto Addo.
