King Faisal owner Alhaji Karim Grusah has publicly called for Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku to step down following the Black Stars' disappointing performance in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Grusah's comments come after Ghana's national team suffered back-to-back losses in their opening Group C matches. The team's struggles have raised concerns about their chances of qualifying for the next AFCON tournament.
The Black Stars' poor start to the qualifying campaign has been marked by a 2-0 defeat away to Côte d'Ivoire and a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia. These results have left Ghana without a point from their first two matches, making their qualification hopes uncertain. The team's performance has also led to growing criticism of the GFA's leadership, with many calling for changes to the football administration.
Alhaji Grusah expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance, rating the Black Stars' showing against The Gambia as "zero". He criticised Kurt Okraku, stating that the GFA president should resign, describing him as a "liar". Grusah's comments were made on the sidelines of the NPP National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, where he spoke to Channel One TV.
The GFA has faced mounting pressure following the team's poor performance, which has included the resignation of head coach Carlos Queiroz. In response, the GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation have agreed on measures to restructure the technical set-up, including the formation of a five-member committee tasked with finding a new head coach for the national team.
Ghana's next matches will be against Somalia in a double-header in November, with both games scheduled to take place at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Black Stars will need a significant improvement in their results to revive their qualification hopes, particularly after failing to reach the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco. The team's upcoming matches against Somalia could prove crucial to their chances of returning to the continental tournament.
The current situation has raised concerns about the state of football administration in Ghana, with many stakeholders calling for changes to the GFA's leadership. Alhaji Grusah's comments add to the growing criticism of the GFA, highlighting the need for reforms to restore the team's fortunes. The GFA's response to the criticism and the team's performance remains to be seen.
With Ghana yet to register a point in Group C, the pressure is mounting on the team to secure a positive result in their upcoming matches. The team's performance will be closely watched, as fans and stakeholders hope for a turnaround in their fortunes. The GFA's ability to address the current challenges and restore the team's confidence will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the next AFCON tournament.
Key points
- Alhaji Karim Grusah has called for GFA president Kurt Okraku to resign due to the Black Stars' poor performance in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
- The Black Stars have lost both of their opening Group C matches, suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Côte d'Ivoire and a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia.
- Ghana will next face Somalia in a double-header in November, with both matches scheduled to take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.
