The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken significant steps in response to the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The GFA issued a formal apology to the people of Ghana for the Black Stars’ inability to qualify for AFCON 2025, acknowledging the disappointment this has caused among fans and the nation.

Following the disappointing qualification campaign, the GFA has dissolved the Black Stars’ Management Committee. This move is part of broader changes aimed at restructuring the team’s management and administration.

There’s an indication from the GFA’s statements that they are planning a thorough review of the team’s strategies, training, player management, and overall structure. This review aims at addressing the root causes of the team’s recent underperformance.

The sentiment on social media and among sports commentators reflects widespread frustration and calls for accountability from the GFA.

There’s significant criticism regarding the management’s approach, player selections, and the lack of clear strategy or development for the national team.

The GFA has scheduled meetings to discuss the way forward. These include discussions with the head coach, Otto Addo, to evaluate his technical report and possibly his future with the team. There’s also mention of a broader stakeholder retreat to gather input on how to revive Ghana’s football fortunes.

The Black Stars’ miss of the 2025 AFCON marks a historic low for Ghanaian football, prompting these significant organizational changes.

The overarching goal appears to be an overhaul of both the technical and administrative facets of the national team setup to restore the Black Stars to their former competitive status.

Manchester City have received a significant boost with several key players returning to training ahead of their upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur. The players back in training include:

John Stones: The England international defender had been sidelined due to an injury but has returned to bolster the defense.

Jack Grealish: The winger, who has been a key part of City’s squad, was also seen back in training, offering more options in attack.

Manuel Akanji: He’s another defensive option for Pep Guardiola, having recovered from a groin issue that caused him to miss international duty.

Kevin De Bruyne: The influential midfielder is back, which is crucial for City’s creativity and midfield control. This news comes at a pivotal time as Manchester City look to reverse a four-game losing streak, which includes defeats in various competitions.

The return of these players could be vital in improving their form, particularly in defense where they’ve been uncharacteristically leaky, conceding 10 goals during this losing run. While not all might start against Tottenham, their availability provides Guardiola with much-needed depth and quality for the match.

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.