Unwanted past: Otto Addo and the Black Stars’ AFCON defeat was a terrible chapter in their history.
About twenty years ago, it took place in Kigali. The black in the stars had eclipsed Ghana’s Black Stars, causing them to fail to shine. As the pride of this West African nation was left off of the final list of nations travelling to Tunisia for the continental football festival, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), there was widespread national grief in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, and many other regions of the country.
Despite losing their pride, Africa’s football royalty rebounded by firmly qualifying for the World Cup in Germany. Two years later, it also included a comeback to the AFCON in Egypt.
For every descendent of Kwame Nkrumah who loves this national team he purposefully created to be the object of envy, it was a time to cherish. The adage “host and win AFCON” did not come true in 2008, but two years later, when the FIFA World Cup was held in Africa for the first time, the boys placed second on this stage and earned a trip to the quarterfinals.
To the awe of millions of football fans, this ensemble took even non-fans off their feet, causing their worldwide fame to soar.
Ghana advanced to the semi-finals of every AFCON tournament from 2008 to 2017, however their success in this competition has declined to the point where it is now impossible to qualify for an even larger event.
In short, there was another excursion twenty years after the notorious one in Kigali, but this time it was in Luanda, which is 3,021 kilometres away.
But around twenty years ago, the cities that cried were the ones that poured their tears.
The reality is astounding.
Ghana’s Black Stars will not compete in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time in twenty years. Their penultimate Group F qualifying encounter ended in a 1-1 tie with Angola, leaving Ghanaians stunned and head coach Otto Addo under intense pressure.
Football pride in the country has suffered a serious setback. Ghana, frequently seen as one of the continent’s heavyweights, had established itself as a regular presence after losing out on the 2004 AFCON. In addition to being a setback, this loss marks an undesirable chapter in the history of football in the nation, one that necessitates extensive reflection and structural adjustments.
A damaged legacy
Otto Addo, who assumed leadership following Ghana’s dismal performance at the 2022 World Cup, is currently the target of criticism. There have been concerns raised about Addo’s player choices and tactical choices, particularly his emphasis on a 3-4-3 formation that made the squad defensively exposed. This most recent setback will surely define his term and cast doubt on his capacity to guide Ghana.
With just three points from five games—three draws and two losses—the Black Stars’ disappointing season is a far cry from what supporters had hoped for. Throughout the qualifications, the team’s inability to capitalise on openings, sustain defensive consistency, and adjust tactically was evident.
Five important lessons from Ghana’s draw with Angola
Players from home should be given greater chances.
In an otherwise poor performance, Razak Simpson, the defender for Nation FC, was one of the few bright spots. Key players were injured, so Simpson was called up, and he played defence with poise and determination. His performance serves as a reminder that local players, who are frequently under-represented on the national squad, need greater opportunities.
However, a poor three-back setup hampered Simpson’s efforts. Ghana’s defence was regularly exposed due to the presence of two center-backs who are natively full-backs, highlighting Addo’s tactical setup’s shortcomings. For his Ghana League teammates, it was a legitimate tryout and stake of claim.
Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, the custodian who started ahead of first-choice Lawrence Ati Zigi, paid up with a superb performance. He made vital one-on-one saves in the second half to keep Ghana in the game, and his penalty stop in the first half was significant. In an inconsistent campaign, Nurudeen’s valour was a rare bright spot.
Poor defensive form
Otto Addo’s 3-4-3 formation didn’t work, especially when facing Mendes João and Sebastião Luvumbo, the wingers for Angola. Angola’s speed and width were too much for full-backs Gideon Mensah and Alidu Seidu to handle, creating openings that were mercilessly taken advantage of. Ghana’s haphazard defensive performance was exacerbated by the wing-backs’ inability to offer sufficient defensive cover, which exposed the center-backs.
Ineffective game management
Ghana took the lead thanks to a spectacular goal from Jordan Ayew, but their failure to maintain control of the game after that proved costly. Angola dominated possession and finally equalised thanks to poor decision-making, misdirected passes, and a lack of poise. The Black Stars have had to deal with this persistent problem of not protecting a lead in recent years.
Ineffective tactics
It was clear that Addo was reluctant to change his strategy in reaction to Angola’s threats of invasion. The Black Stars seemed trapped in a strict system that provided little flexibility, while Angola made five substitutions to take advantage of Ghana’s deficiencies. In the end, Ghana lost a significant victory due to this lack of tactical dynamism.
A moment to think
Ghanaian football needs a wake-up call after failing to qualify for AFCON 2025. The team’s structure, strategies, and player development pathways need to be completely redesigned because the days of depending solely on prior successes are long gone.
As supporters and interested parties demand answers, Otto Addo will face even more pressure. The Black Stars need to figure out how to rehabilitate and repair their reputation on the African scene, whether he stays in charge or not.
One thing is evident as Ghana struggles with this historic setback: the country’s football future rests on taking lessons from the setback and implementing the required adjustments to prevent a recurrence of this troubling period.
