Ghana’s aspirations to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have been officially dashed following a 1-1 draw with Angola on November 15, 2024. Despite a spectacular free-kick goal by Jordan Ayew, which gave Ghana the lead in the 19th minute, the team could not secure the victory needed to advance.

Angola managed to equalize in the 64th minute through Zini’s header, securing their place in the competition while leaving Ghana at the bottom of Group F with just three points from five matches. This outcome marks the first time in over two decades that Ghana, a four-time African champion, will miss the AFCON tournament, with their last absence occurring in 2004.

The result underscores a period of struggle for the Black Stars, reflecting broader issues of inconsistency and missed opportunities throughout their qualifying campaign. Despite individual moments of brilliance, like Ayew’s free-kick, the team’s collective performance was not enough to clinch qualification, leading to widespread disappointment among fans and within the football community.

David Coote, a Premier League referee, has been suspended with immediate effect by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following the circulation of a video on social media.

This video allegedly shows Coote making derogatory remarks about Liverpool Football Club and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp. Here are the key points from the situation:

The video in question appears to show Coote using expletives to describe Liverpool as “s***” and Jurgen Klopp with offensive language, specifically calling him “arrogant” and using a derogatory term. This has led to widespread attention and controversy.

The footage seems to date back to the 2020-21 season, referencing a game where Coote was involved, possibly as a fourth official, and his comments were in response to a question about a Liverpool match he officiated.

The PGMOL has confirmed Coote’s suspension and announced that they will conduct a full investigation. They have stated that no further comments will be made until the investigation concludes.

Coote has been involved in controversial decisions in the past, including VAR duties in matches where Liverpool felt they were wronged by referee decisions, adding context to the current situation.

This suspension comes into effect immediately, and while the investigation is ongoing, Coote will not be available for selection as a referee or VAR in Premier League games. The focus now is on the investigation’s outcome, which will determine the next steps in Coote’s career and any further actions by PGMOL or the FA.

The Ghanaian national football team, known as the Black Stars, are currently facing a challenging situation in their quest for qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Eight players have withdrawn from the Black Stars squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Angola and Niger. Notable among them are Iñaki Williams, Alexander Djiku, Tariq Lamptey, Ibrahim Osman, Jonas Adjetey, Antoine Semenyo, and Jerome Opoku, mostly due to injuries. Joseph Paintsil has also withdrawn for personal reasons.

Ghana, having not won any of their first four qualifiers, is under pressure. Their campaign has been marred by a 1-0 loss to Angola, a 1-1 draw with Niger, and disappointing results against Sudan (0-0 away, 2-0 loss at home). This leaves them with only two points, placing them third in Group F, behind Angola and Sudan.

The team’s performance has been inconsistent, with no wins in the qualifiers so far. This poor form follows their struggles in recent AFCON tournaments where they’ve experienced early exits, contributing to a narrative of decline from their once dominant status in African football.

Coach Otto Addo has been under scrutiny due to these results. Despite some initial successes, like qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, the team’s inability to score and defensive lapses have been highlighted, especially in their loss to Sudan where they failed to capitalize on their chances.

There’s considerable frustration among fans and in media circles regarding the team’s performance. Calls for a strategic overhaul, better youth development, and possibly a change in coaching staff have been noted, with some suggesting that the Ghana Football Association might need to reassess their approach if Ghana fails to qualify.

Ghana needs to win their remaining matches against Angola and Niger to have any chance of qualifying. They must also hope for favorable results from other matches in their group. The team is set to open camp in Accra to prepare for these crucial fixtures, but with key players missing, the task is daunting.

The situation underscores a pivotal moment for Ghanaian football, where the outcome of these qualifiers could significantly influence the future direction of the national team’s management and strategy.