By Issah Olegor
After a difficult year for Ghanaian football, Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku believes the Black Stars are beginning to rediscover their identity and regain the confidence that once made them continental giants.
Speaking to GFA media, Okraku acknowledged the inconsistency of the national team’s recent performances but expressed cautious optimism following back-to-back wins during the March 2025 international window. Ghana secured crucial victories over Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a much-needed boost after a turbulent 2024.
“The Black Stars have had an inconsistent run,” Okraku admitted.
“But I believe our appeal to the sporting public for support has paid off. The players seem to have regained their confidence.”
This comes after a year of deep frustration for Ghanaian fans. The national team failed to qualify for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first time since 2004 that Ghana missed out on the tournament.
The team also endured a six-game winless streak across friendlies and qualifiers, which sparked public criticism of both the players and the GFA leadership.
The failure compounded pressure on Okraku, who has been in charge of the GFA since 2019 following the dramatic exit of former president Kwesi Nyantakyi in the wake of the Anas Aremeyaw Anas corruption exposé.
Okraku’s administration has been focused on rebuilding the image and structure of Ghanaian football, but results at the senior national level remained underwhelming until recently.
Now, the Black Stars are gearing up for the 2025 Unity Cup in London, a four-nation tournament involving Nigeria, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The competition, which kicks off on May 28, is being seen as a preparatory platform for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September, where Ghana will face Mali and Chad again.
Ghana will face fierce rivals Nigeria in the semi-final of the Unity Cup, with the winner set to meet either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago in the final.
Head Coach Otto Addo has described the tournament as a valuable opportunity to test new players, including several debutants from the Ghana Premier League.
