Black Stars struggles have nothing to do with players and coaches

Ace journalist Saddick Adams has voiced his dissatisfaction with Ghana’s football decline in recent years.

Once one of the top teams in world football, Ghana has experienced a downward spiral. Group stage exits in the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, followed by the recent failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, have caused unrest among fans, with many calling for the dismissal of head coach Otto Addo.

However, Otto Addo has defended himself, citing a lack of national talent as the primary reason for Ghana’s struggles. This claim has not sat well with Saddick Adams, who insists that Ghana has enough talent to compete at the highest level.

“The top three dribblers in the English Premier League at this point—the best three dribblers in the most competitive league in the world—are all Ghanaians. This has been consistent. Two years ago, the best defender in the league in terms of blocks was a Ghanaian. The talent is widespread, even back home on grassless pitches. I’ve spoken to top agents, including the owner of Right to Dream, and they say Ghana is only scratching the surface of its talent base. So, talent has never been an issue,” Saddick told JoyNews.

According to Saddick Adams, although players and coaches face constant backlash from fans due to poor results, they are not the primary cause of the team’s current struggles. He believes the problems stem from deeper, systemic issues.

“I am one of the people who think that coaching and the playing body have nothing to do with the challenges we face because the facts are very clear. You see these players performing week in and week out in the top leagues in the world, and then they come here to play, and you ask yourself; are these really the same players who were playing in the English Premier League last week? So, it’s not about the players lacking talent. The problem lies in an institutional framework that doesn’t function as it should. Our issue is purely administrative failure and mismanagement,” he explained.

Although Ghana will miss the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, the Black Stars still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They will resume their qualifiers in March 2025, facing Chad and Madagascar.

Watch as Otto Addo reveals impact of Black Stars’ challenging situation on his family

FKA