Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has expressed concerns about the state of Ghana football, citing the leadership of Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku as a major contributor to the team's struggles. Lamptey's comments come on the back of Ghana's disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, which has left the team without a point from their opening two matches. The Black Stars' poor performance has intensified calls for changes to the administration and technical structure of Ghana football.
Ghana's AFCON qualifying campaign got off to a disastrous start with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast, followed by a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. The result has put the team under significant pressure to qualify for the 2027 tournament. Lamptey, who represented Ghana at the 1992 Olympic Games and the 1996 AFCON, believes the difficulties facing the national team are linked to wider problems within the country's football administration. He expressed his concerns about Okraku's leadership, stating that the GFA president has created enemies for himself.
According to Lamptey, Okraku's leadership style has led to him creating enemies, which is affecting the team's performance. "I love Kurt Okraku, but he has created enemies for himself, and the enemies want his downfall," Lamptey told 3Sports. He added that those around Okraku are not helping him and that the GFA president needs to change his approach to address the challenges facing Ghana football. Lamptey's comments reflect the growing criticism of Okraku and the GFA following Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.
The Black Stars finished bottom of their qualifying group for the 2025 AFCON and missed the tournament for the first time in more than two decades. The team's poor start to the 2027 qualifiers has led to increased calls for changes to the administration and technical structure of Ghana football. The GFA is currently searching for a new head coach after Carlos Queiroz left his position following the team's disappointing start to the campaign.
Queiroz, who was appointed earlier this year, was tasked with guiding Ghana through the 2026 World Cup and 2027 AFCON campaigns. His departure has left the Black Stars without a permanent head coach, with a five-member committee now overseeing the search for his replacement. The committee is expected to submit its report to the Sports Ministry on Friday, 9 October.
Ghana's next AFCON qualifying assignments will come in October, when they face Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Black Stars must improve their results in those matches to revive their campaign and maintain their hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament. The team's performance in the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining the future of Ghana football.
The crisis facing Ghana football has led to increased scrutiny of the GFA's leadership and the team's technical structure. The GFA will need to address the challenges facing the team and make changes to restore confidence in the administration and the team. The upcoming matches against Somalia will provide an opportunity for the team to turn their campaign around and move forward.
Key points
- Kurt Okraku's leadership style has created enemies, which is affecting the team's performance.
- Ghana's poor start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers has intensified calls for changes to the administration and technical structure of Ghana football.
- The GFA is searching for a new head coach after Carlos Queiroz left his position following the team's disappointing start to the campaign.
