Ghana football faces structural reforms and AFCON qualification pressure

Ghanaian football faces structural and competitive challenges as the national team prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. President John Dramani Mahama recently met with several top football clubs to discuss the declining quality of the domestic league. He emphasized the need to revive the defunct Colts League to improve grassroots development and urged authorities to prevent the premature sale of talented young players to foreign clubs.

Amidst these structural concerns, the Black Stars are set to begin their Group C qualifying campaign on September 24 against Côte d’Ivoire, followed by a match against The Gambia. Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has stressed that the team must secure at least a second-place finish in the group to avoid a crisis, noting that failing to beat teams like The Gambia or Somalia would be unacceptable.

Additionally, the GFA is working to ensure the Accra Sports Stadium is rehabilitated and ready to host the upcoming home fixture against The Gambia. The stadium is currently the only approved venue in the country for international matches, making the ongoing pitch maintenance critical for the national team's qualifying campaign.