Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has pointed to the absence of a structured transition plan as the key reason behind the recent struggles of the Black Stars and other national teams.
Ghana, a powerhouse in African football, has in recent years endured a tough period, failing to progress beyond the group stage in their last three major tournaments in Cameroon, Qatar, and Ivory Coast respectively.
Their woes deepened when, for the first time in 20 years, the four-time African champions failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The decline has not been limited to the Black Stars. The Black Starlets, Black Meteors, and Black Galaxies have all suffered setbacks, failing to maintain the levels of success seen in previous years.
Agyemang Badu, who was part of the successful Black Satellites squad that transitioned smoothly into the senior team, believes a lack of continuity has played a significant role in Ghana’s struggles.
“If you recall back our time, Sellas Tetteh went with Sadiq Adams, Ransford Osei, and all those guys. They came and prompted five of them. They met me, Samuel Inkoom, and others. Then we took the U-20 to the World Cup and won it. When we came back, they selected seven of us for the 2010 AFCON,” the U-20 World Cup winner told TV3.
“When we reached the finals, we were beaten by Egypt. The big names were gradually going out, and we took control of the national team.
“From there, the U-20 have not been doing well. The U-17 have not been doing well, so you’re not getting the transition like our time,” he added.
Currently, Jerry Afriyie is the only member of Ghana’s U-20 squad to have made it into the Black Stars setup, highlighting the transition issues facing the national teams.