Former Asante Kotoko Board Chairman and current Rugby Africa President, Herbert Mensah, has expressed concerns over Ghana’s declining reputation as a sporting nation.
His remarks follow the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a significant setback for a nation once celebrated for its football prowess.
The Black Stars ended the qualifiers without a single win in six games, finishing at the bottom of Group F with just three points. This marks the first time in 20 years that Ghana will miss out on the prestigious continental tournament.
Speaking to Joy News, Mensah linked the team’s poor performance to broader issues affecting sports in Ghana, including disappointing outcomes at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
We have to look inwardly at ourselves. A great sporting nation like Ghana is no longer a great sporting nation,” he said.
“You go to the Olympics, we wasted taxpayers’ money, you go to Commonwealth Games, we’ve wasted taxpayers’ money.
“You go to the Nations Cup (AFCON) and the amount of money that is spent, singularly on football, the political sport, is not acceptable,” he added.
Despite the recent setbacks, the Black Stars will aim to regain their form when they face Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March 2025.