Ghana's Black Stars players Jerome Opoku and Felix Afena-Gyan have taken to social media to apologize to fans and urge them to remain behind the team after a disappointing 4-2 loss to The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match was played at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, with Ghana surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2. The defeat has put pressure on the team ahead of the remaining qualifiers.
The loss to The Gambia was the second consecutive defeat for the Black Stars in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, having earlier lost 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké. As a result, Ghana finished the first two rounds of Group C without a point. The defeat also marked the end of Carlos Queiroz's second spell as Black Stars head coach, with the Ghana Football Association and the Portuguese coach agreeing to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Jerome Opoku, who was involved in the game, acknowledged the difficult period the team is going through and took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologize to Ghanaians and ask for continued support. He wrote: "A difficult couple of weeks . We will learn and turn it around . Stick with us, not over yet Ghana people". His message was accompanied by a photo of the Ghanaian flag.
Felix Afena-Gyan, who scored Ghana's second goal, also apologized to supporters and promised the team would continue fighting. He wrote: "We failed you, and we share your disappointment. But this isn’t the end of our journey. We’ll learn, rise again, and keep fighting to make Ghana proud". His message was also posted on X.
The Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation have formed a five-member committee to assess and recommend the next Black Stars coach. The committee, chaired by Fred Pappoe, has until October 9, 2026, to submit its report. The Black Stars' next 2027 AFCON qualifiers are scheduled for November against Somalia.
Carlos Queiroz managed Ghana in seven matches during his 2026 spell, recording just one victory. That win came against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The GFA and Queiroz agreed to part ways, and the search for a new coach is underway.
The Black Stars players' apology and message of hope have been well-received by fans, who are eagerly awaiting the team's next match. The team's performance in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers has been disappointing so far, but the players are determined to turn things around.
Key points
- Black Stars players Jerome Opoku and Felix Afena-Gyan apologize to fans for 4-2 loss to The Gambia.
- Ghana finishes first two rounds of Group C without a point in 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
- Carlos Queiroz's contract terminated by mutual consent after second consecutive loss.
