Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has expressed concerns about the state of Ghana football, citing the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku's leadership as a major contributor to the problems. Lamptey's comments come after the Black Stars' disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Ghana, four-time African champions, lost their first two matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.
The Black Stars' performance has been under scrutiny, with the team suffering a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. These results have left Ghana without a point from their opening two matches, putting their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 tournament under pressure. The team's struggles have sparked intense criticism of the GFA and calls for changes to Ghana football's administrative and technical structures.
Lamptey, who represented Ghana at the 1992 Olympic Games and the 1996 AFCON, believes the problems affecting the national team are part of wider issues within Ghana football. He expressed his concerns about Okraku's leadership, stating that the GFA president has created enemies for himself, which is affecting the team's performance. Lamptey emphasized that Okraku needs to change his approach to address the challenges facing Ghana football.
The GFA has faced serious backlash following Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and the team's poor start to the current qualifying campaign. Ghana missed the previous edition of the continental tournament for the first time in more than two decades after finishing bottom of their qualifying group. The back-to-back defeats have intensified pressure on the GFA and the national team.
In response to the team's struggles, the GFA is searching for a new head coach after Carlos Queiroz left his position by mutual agreement. The Portuguese coach was appointed earlier this year with the task of guiding Ghana to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 AFCON. His departure has left the Black Stars without a permanent head coach, with the GFA expected to appoint a replacement.
A five-member committee has been established to oversee the search for a new coach, with its report due to be submitted to the Sports Ministry on Friday, 9th October. The committee's task is to identify a suitable candidate to lead the Black Stars. Ghana's next AFCON qualifying assignments will come in October when they face Somalia in a double-header, with both matches scheduled to be played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars need a significant improvement in results to revive their campaign and remain in contention for qualification. The team's upcoming matches against Somalia will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the 2027 AFCON. The GFA and the national team will be under intense scrutiny as they strive to address their current challenges and restore the team's fortunes.
Key points
- Nii Odartey Lamptey criticizes Kurt Okraku's leadership of the Ghana Football Association.
- Ghana's Black Stars struggle in 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
- GFA searches for new head coach after Carlos Queiroz's departure.
