The Ghana Football Association's (GFA) Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, has pinpointed the Black Stars' home defeat to Angola as the pivotal moment in their unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In a rare setback at home, Ghana suffered a 1-0 loss to Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium during the qualifiers, a result that Asante Twum believes significantly hindered their chances of qualification.

Speaking to Asempa FM, he expressed his confusion over the unexpected loss, emphasizing its impact on Ghana’s qualification bid.

“It has been extremely difficult to understand what happened in our first loss at home against Angola,” Asante Twum said.

“I told a lot of people that losing at home to Angola is what prevented us from qualifying.”

Asante Twum also acknowledged the growing competitiveness of African football, noting that winning away games has become increasingly challenging.

He stressed that securing victories at home is crucial to progressing through qualifiers, especially in a continent where away wins are tough to come by.

“The African game has reached a point where it is extremely difficult to win your away games,” he explained. “The most important thing in qualifiers is to try to win your home games.”

Ghana's qualification campaign for the 2025 AFCON ended in disappointment, with the Black Stars failing to win any of their six matches.

They finished bottom of Group F with just three points, recording three losses and three draws.

The final blow came in their last qualifier, a 2-1 defeat to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium, marking the first time in 20 years that Ghana has failed to qualify for the continental tournament.

Now out of the running for AFCON, the Black Stars' focus shifts to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

However, their recent performances have raised serious concerns about the team’s ability to compete at the highest level.

Fans and stakeholders are calling for significant changes to restore the team's confidence and competitive edge, with a clear path forward needed to rebuild Ghana's reputation as a football powerhouse in Africa.