Abdul Salam Yakubu, President of New Edubiase FC, has attributed the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to the ‘evil’ leadership of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
For the first time in two decades, Ghana, a four-time African champion, failed to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament, finishing at the bottom of Group F.
The Black Stars ended their qualifying campaign with three draws and three losses from six matches.
While many fans and pundits have pointed fingers at head coach Otto Addo for the team’s disappointing performance, Abdul Salam insists that the real fault lies with the GFA.
According to him, the association’s leadership has caused discontent within the football community, leading to the poor form of the national team.
“To me, Pep Guardiola is the best coach in the world, but he cannot handle the Black Stars. Otto Addo has done nothing wrong as coach of the national team,” he told Kessben FM.
He further criticized the state of Ghanaian football, pointing to deeper issues beyond the coaching staff.
“For our coach to celebrate an equalizing goal tells you our football has collapsed.
“Semenyo, Inaki, Kudus, and others are mature players. Otto Addo has nothing to teach them. Anyone can coach the Black Stars.”
He accused the GFA of fostering a toxic environment within Ghanaian football, claiming their actions have had a negative impact on the team’s performance.
“Otto Addo can’t be blamed for Black Stars AFCON qualification failure. We didn’t qualify because of evil leaders. They’ve really hurt people within the football fraternity. Their evil deeds are paying off,” he added.
Despite the disappointment, the Black Stars will have an opportunity to redeem themselves in March when they face Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.