The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has dissolved the Black Stars Management Committee following the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. This marks Ghana’s first absence from the tournament in two decades, prompting significant changes within the GFA’s leadership framework.
The decision was announced on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, during an Executive Council (ExCo) meeting as part of a broader restructuring effort to revive the fortunes of the Black Stars.
In a statement, the GFA expressed its appreciation to the outgoing committee members for their dedication to Ghanaian football but emphasized the urgency of reforms to return the national team to its former glory.
“We sincerely thank the members of the Management Committee for their service to Ghana Football over the years. As we turn the page, we remain committed to restoring the Black Stars to their rightful place in African football,” the statement read.
The GFA also acknowledged the unwavering support of Ghanaian fans, assuring them of a renewed focus on future competitions.
The future of the technical team is also under review. Head coach Otto Addo is scheduled to meet with the GFA on November 27, 2024, to present a technical report and assess the performance of his staff since his reappointment in March 2024.
Addo’s second tenure has been challenging, with the team failing to secure a single win during the AFCON qualifiers. The disappointing campaign has cast a shadow over his leadership, raising questions about his continuation as head coach.
Despite the setback, the GFA is turning its attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ghana is currently joint-top of Group I with three wins from four matches, providing a glimmer of hope for the team’s resurgence.
The GFA reiterated its commitment to rebuilding the Black Stars, stating: “We apologize unreservedly for the team’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2025. However, we pledge to focus all efforts on the World Cup qualifiers and on rebuilding a team that will make Ghana proud.”
The dissolution of the Black Stars Management Committee signals a pivotal moment for Ghanaian football. As the GFA embarks on this restructuring journey, the focus remains on addressing underlying issues, fostering accountability, and ensuring that the Black Stars reclaim their status as one of Africa’s footballing powerhouses.
Below is a copy of the statement
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wishes to express its sincerest apologies to the good people of Ghana for the Black Stars’ inability to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
We understand the disappointment and frustration this failure has caused, and we share in the pain and sadness of our beloved fans. We acknowledge that the team’s performance did not meet the high expectations of the nation, and for that, we are truly sorry.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal football fans for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout the qualifying campaign. Your passion and dedication are what drive us to strive for excellence.
Going forward, the Executive Council, at its meeting of Wednesday, 20th November, 2024, took the following key decisions:
1. Immediate dissolution of the Management Committee of the senior national football team, the Black Stars. In doing so, we sincerely thank the members of the Committee for their service to Ghana Football over the years.
2. The Executive Council will meet the Head Coach of the Black Stars, Mr. Otto Addo, on the 27th of November, 2024, to discuss his Technical report on the just ended AFCON qualifiers and the overall performance of the Technical team since assuming duty earlier this year.
Ghana Football Retreat
Given the passion and concern shown by members and stakeholders of Ghana Football as well as the general public, the GFA shall hold a Ghana Football Retreat to which members and all stakeholders shall be invited.
Members and stakeholders such as SWAG and the Media, National Sports Authority, PFAG, former captains and players, coaches, supporters, Football enthusiasts, Sports-related professionals (Medics, Economists, Marketers etc), and Opinion leaders (including traditional rulers) will be invited to the Retreat.
The Ministries of Sports, Finance and Education, and key Authorities such as Ghana Revenue Authority and Ghana Tourism Authority will be represented.
The meeting shall be held on the 28th of November, 2024, at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence, with the primary purpose of soliciting views and perspectives from stakeholders of Ghana Football. The output from this Retreat shall be used to develop a roadmap for enhancing the performance of the Black Stars and our other national teams.
We appreciate the support and patience of the Ghanaian people and look forward to making amends in the future.
