Former President John Dramani Mahama has given his thoughts on the recent woes of the Black Stars, shedding some light on the team’s lackluster showing in various tournaments.
The national team, currently going through a tough period, suffered early exits in three major competitions.
Under the guidance of Milovan Rajevac during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, the Black Stars experienced a disappointing group-stage exit, managing only one point in three matches. The 2022 World Cup, led by coach Otto Addo, saw a similar outcome as Ghana bowed out at the group stage with a mere three points.
The ongoing 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast added to the team’s woes, with Ghana suffering yet another premature elimination at the group stage, marked by a defeat and two draws.
John Dramani Mahama pointed to the team’s struggles being linked to the decision to build the squad around foreign players.
He expressed concern that relying solely on players from different leagues might hinder their cohesion, stating, “If you bring only foreign players, they don’t play together in their teams, and then when it is time for competition, you bring them and come and tell them to play, it won’t work.”
The disappointing performance in Ivory Coast prompted the dismissal of coach Chris Hughton, with the Executive Council expected to announce a new head coach soon.
