Herbert Mensah criticizes administrators over Black Stars' AFCON failure

Former Asante Kotoko chairman, Herbert Mensah, has sharply criticized Ghanaian football administrators following the Black Stars' failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Speaking to Joy News, Mensah expressed disappointment over the team’s lackluster performance, which saw Ghana finish last in Group F without a single victory across six matches.

This marks the first time in 20 years that the Black Stars have missed out on Africa’s premier football tournament.

Mensah compared Ghana’s struggles to the success of nations like Niger and Sudan, who, despite lacking players in top leagues like the Bundesliga, La Liga, or Premier League, manage to excel through cohesive systems and coordinated play.

“You would have noticed it even with Niger and Sudan—you're not seeing stars in top Bundesliga clubs or La Liga, but they have systems that make sense, and they play in a coordinated fashion,” Mensah remarked.

He criticized Ghana’s football leadership for failing to establish similar systems and lambasted their tendency to make excuses for poor results.

“What is it about our administrators that allows them to put together such systems, and when they fail, they still have the audacity to make excuses that no one in their right mind would accept?”

The Black Stars’ AFCON absence has sparked widespread criticism, with calls for significant reforms in the management of Ghanaian football.