A stunning 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia has plunged Ghana's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign into crisis. The Black Stars surrendered a two-goal lead at the Accra Sports Stadium, conceding four times in the second half to suffer a second consecutive Group C loss.
Former Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye, who has followed Ghanaian football since the 1970s, delivered a scathing assessment of the performance. He stated it was the poorest display he had witnessed from the national team across five decades, worse than anything seen in the 70s, 80s, or 90s.
A call for change
Vanderpuye warned that the issues plaguing Ghanaian football must be addressed urgently. He called for a broader review of national team management, suggesting experienced figures like Ernest and Abatla should be involved. He was critical of individuals with direct club interests holding administrative roles, arguing that national interest cannot supersede personal ambition in such a setup.
The defeat leaves Ghana with zero points from their opening two qualifiers, having also lost to Ivory Coast. Head coach Carlos Queiroz reacted to the latest loss by insisting "I won't resign!". The team's immediate focus shifts to a World Cup qualifying campaign where they currently sit third in their group with four points from three matches. Their next fixture in that competition is a key away match against the Democratic Republic of Congo in October.
Ghana will attempt to revive their AFCON hopes with a double-header against Somalia in October, again at the Accra Sports Stadium. The team's recent form shows one win, two draws, and two defeats from their last five outings, including losses to Colombia and Croatia. A look at the current standings illustrates the scale of the task ahead in both competitions.
Read the full report at ghanaweb.com
