The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, has made it clear that players will not make themselves available for selection for the Black Stars if they are subjected to severe abuse following poor performances.
The Black Stars faced heavy criticism for their disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, which saw the team exit at the group stage.
During the GFA meet the press event in Kumasi after Ghana’s early exit from the tournament, Kurt Okraku appealed to fans to refrain from abusing players.
“If we berate our players when things go wrong, we are unlikely to see any improvement. That is why I’ve always emphasized the need to support our players in both good and bad times,” Okraku stated.
“Let’s leave the crucial but important decisions to the technical team to handle.”
Ghana failed to advance to the Round of 16 after finishing third in a group that included Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique.
The Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde, followed by back-to-back 2-2 draws against Egypt and Mozambique, which ultimately led to Ghana’s elimination from the tournament.
For the second consecutive tournament, the Black Stars exited at the group stages without securing a victory, extending the country’s quest for its fifth AFCON title to 42 years.