Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has expressed his frustration with Black Stars players over their disappointing start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Okraku addressed the team on Tuesday ahead of their games against Sudan, openly criticising their inconsistent performances in the opening games.
Black Stars began their campaign with a defeat in Kumasi against Angola, citing poor pitch conditions. However, even on a better pitch in Morocco, they failed to impress, drawing with Niger in a game marked by a lack of passion and urgency.
With only one point from two games, Ghana face a tough road to qualification, and Okraku’s words reflected the urgency of the situation.
“The minimum I expect, the minimum Ghana expects is a team of boys or men who will show passion and desire to play for our country. Not when you are dribbled and you will be seen walking on the pitch and the ball is heading towards your net. That is impossible, I told the coach,” he said.
“It’s either you guys decide to die for Ghana…or decide you will not, then you’ll never be selected.”
“Once you depart your various places and you come here and put on the shirt, naturally, that should give you the pride to fight, to show passion, to show aggression [and] to show desire to win.”
Ghana’s doubleheader against Sudan, with games on October 10 and a return fixture four days later, presents an opportunity to turn things around.
Ghana, with just one point, trail group leaders Angola (6 points) and second-placed Sudan (3 points). Unless they secure victories, they risk missing out on the AFCON, a fate they last faced in 2004.