GFA President Okraku tears into Black Stars' lackluster start to AFCON Qualifiers

Accra, Ghana - October 9, 2024 - In a scathing critique, Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku expressed his disappointment and frustration with the Black Stars' lackluster start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The team's opening games, which included a defeat to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger, have left Ghana trailing in third place in Group F with a mere one point out of a possible six.

Okraku's ire was further fueled by what he perceived as Niger's undeserving draw against the Black Stars, stating that some of their players weren't even good enough to play for his club.

"The minimum I expect, the minimum Ghana expects is a team of boys or men who will show passion and desire to play for our country. Not when you are dribbled and you will be seen walking on the pitch and the ball is heading towards your net. That is impossible, I told the coach," he said.

"It's either you guys decide to die for Ghana…or decide you will not, then you'll never be selected.

"Once you depart your various places and you come here and put on the shirt, naturally, that should give you the pride to fight, to show passion, to show aggression [and] to show desire to win."

"Four or five of the players in that [Niger] squad cannot play in my club. That is the truth. But Ghana played 1-1 against Niger," said the FA President in a speech to the team on Tuesday, October 8.

"What did we see? We saw a Black Stars team without energy, without passion [and] without the desire to play. It's not possible like this."

The Ghana Football Association President visited the team's camp on Tuesday, October 8, and urged the players to learn from their mistakes and improve their performance ahead of the upcoming doubleheader against Sudan onThursday, October 10, 2024.

Source: Lead News Online