The Black Stars of Ghana, once a dominant force in African football, have seen their performance sharply decline in recent years, leaving fans disillusioned and frustrated. Since they qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2006, Ghana’s national football team has consistently been one of the continent’s top contenders. They reached the AFCON final in 2010, only to lose narrowly to Egypt 1-0.
In 2015, the Black Stars made another finals appearance but heartbreakingly lost to Ivory Coast on penalties. That same period also saw the team’s historic run to the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa, a moment that brought pride and optimism to Ghanaians everywhere.
However, since 2017, the fortunes of the Black Stars have taken a nosedive. The once-mighty team has struggled to maintain its former glory, failing to even reach the quarterfinal stage in the last three AFCON tournaments. The team has only managed to win one AFCON game since 2017, a 2-0 victory over Guinea Bissau in 2019, before crashing out in the Round of 16 after a penalty shootout defeat to Tunisia.
Ghana’s poor results have left fans questioning the team’s capabilities. Defeats to countries like Comoros, Cape Verde, and Angola, as well as disappointing results against Sudan, Niger, and Mozambique, have compounded the sense of crisis. Just last week, the Black Stars could only manage a goalless draw against Sudan in a 2025 AFCON qualifier played at home in Accra. That dismal performance left many fans in shock and without hope.
Although the team boasts talented players like Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Alidu Seidu, Alexander Djiku, and rising star Ernest Nuamah, belief in the Black Stars is at an all-time low. As they prepare for the reverse fixture against Sudan in Libya on Tuesday, the pressure is immense.
Failure to win this match would jeopardize their qualification for the next AFCON, a competition they have been part of since 2006. Missing out would mark the first time since 2004 that Ghana has failed to qualify, a possibility that now looms over a team whose past glories feel increasingly distant.
For now, all Ghanaians can do is hope for a miracle, but belief in their beloved Black Stars has waned dramatically. If they don’t turn things around soon, the golden era of Ghanaian football may be nothing but a fading memory.
By: Mustapha Hadji
