Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, Frederick Acheampong, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Black Stars performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The West African nation who were hoping to win their fifth title for the first time since 1982 exited the tournament during the group phase for the second time, securing a third-place finish in Group B with two points.
Ghana faced a defeat against Cape Verde in their opener and managed two draws against Egypt and Mozambique.
Acheampong, reflecting on the team’s display at the 34th AFCON in Ivory Coast, openly admitted that the Black Stars fell short of expectations and deserved their elimination.
He pointed to the coaching staff and players output as primary factors for their lacklustre performance.
Acknowledging the evolving nature of football, Acheampong also emphasized that past achievements alone cannot guarantee success in a tournament, stressing that the team was simply not up to par. He highlighted the presence of stronger teams still competing in the tournament.
“Our performance was poor and it starts with our coaching staff. The output of the players was not enough and so we were not good enough,” he told Asempa FM‘s Ultimate Sports Show.
“Football has changed and so you don’t head into such a tournament with the past achievement. We were simply not good enough and those who are good are still playing at the tournament,” he added.
This marks Ghana’s second consecutive group-phase exit in the AFCON, following a similar outcome in 2021 in Cameroon, where the Black Stars exited with just a single point.
The disappointing performance has led to the dismissal of Chris Hughton and his technical team.
A five-member committee has been established to recommend a new coach to the Executive Council, signalling a shift in leadership as the country aims to revive its football fortunes.
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