Former Black Stars player Shilla Illiasu has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to establish a comprehensive development plan for the senior men's national team.

Illiasu made this appeal in an interview with Citi Sports following Ghana’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers held in Libya.

In light of this latest setback, which has left Ghana on the brink of missing out on the AFCON for the first time in 20 years, Illiasu emphasized the necessity of shifting the team's focus from immediate objectives, such as qualifying for the upcoming AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to a long-term strategy that ensures sustainable success.

“Going forward, I think the time has come for every Ghanaian to understand that there is a problem with the team,” he stated.

“In order to build a very solid team, we need to forget about AFCON, we need to forget about the World Cup, and let’s try to put together a plan—either a five-year development plan—and let the whole country understand that there is a problem with the team.”

Currently, Ghana sits third in Group F with just two points from four matches, significantly diminishing their chances of qualifying for the AFCON.

The Black Stars will return to action in November, facing Niger and Angola in their final two qualifying matches, where they will need strong performances to keep their hopes alive.