Former Ghanaian international, Yahaya Mohammed, has criticized the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the Black Stars' underwhelming performances, particularly in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Ghana has struggled in the qualifiers, remaining winless after four matches with two draws and two defeats, which leaves them in 3rd place in Group F with just two points out of a possible 12.
This alarming run of results has put the Black Stars' qualification hopes at risk, and could see them miss out on the AFCON for the first time in 20 years.
In an interview with Asempa FM, Yahaya Mohammed, a former Asante Kotoko striker, pointed the finger at the GFA for the team’s recent struggles.
He argued that the selection of players who do not understand the “DNA” of Ghanaian football is to blame.
“The Ghana Football Association is not doing enough to ensure the Black Stars perform,” he said. “They invite players from all sorts of places to join the team without knowing how we play. These players don't know our DNA.”
Mohammed pointed out the mismatch between how players perform at their clubs compared to their national team duties.
He highlighted the example of striker Antoine Semenyo, who had an impressive performance against Manchester City over the weekend, and questioned whether he could replicate that form for Ghana.
Similarly, he mentioned how Thomas Partey, who plays as a right-back for Arsenal, cannot perform the same role with the Black Stars.
“Over the weekend, we saw Semenyo against Manchester City and I asked myself, is this same player who plays for Ghana? Thomas Partey mostly plays at right back for Arsenal, but can he do the same thing for Black Stars?” he remarked.
Mohammed placed the blame squarely on the GFA, stating that the players abroad often feel they are doing the country a favor by representing Ghana, without understanding the national mindset.
He pointed out that players' indifference toward losing or drawing reflects a lack of national pride.
“These players playing abroad always feel they are doing us a favour by playing for us, which should not be,” he added.
“They don't understand that we don't like to draw as a country, and we don't like defeat. But when we lose or draw, they don't care. The GFA must wake up and ensure these things stop.”
With Ghana's qualification hanging in the balance, the Black Stars will aim to improve their form in their upcoming qualifiers.
They will face Angola on November 15 in Luanda before hosting Niger Republic three days later, in a bid to revive their chances of reaching the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
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