Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director, Ibrahim Saanie Daara, believes that player complacency is stalling the progress of the Black Stars.
The Black Stars have struggled to meet expectations in recent competitions, making early exits from the last two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, where they were eliminated in the group stages.
Now, the team is in danger of missing out on qualification for the 2025 AFCON, set to take place in Morocco.
Currently, the Black Stars sit third in Group F with only two points from four games, leaving them winless and in a challenging position.
Saanie Daara, now a Senior Media Officer at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), believes the players’ complacency is holding the team back. He has called on the Football Association’s leadership and coaching staff to demand greater commitment from the squad.
“After watching the Black Stars in the AFCON qualifiers, I think there is an issue of complacency because the players feel their position is secure, so they don’t push themselves,” Saanie Daara said in an interview with Asempa FM.
“The leadership and technical team must make it clear to the players that they need to give their best effort, as we still want to qualify,” he added.
The Black Stars will play their final round of qualifying matches later this month, facing Angola in Luanda on November 15 and hosting the Niger Republic three days later.
To secure their place in the 2025 tournament, Ghana not only needs victories in both games but must also rely on Sudan losing to Niger and Angola.
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