Dede Shines After Ghana AFCON Exit

Andre Ayew

Andre Ayew has netted a brace for Le Havre after being brought off the bench.

The Black Stars Captain came on as substitute to score in 85th and 94th minutes for Le Havre as they secured 3-3 draw away from home to Lorient.

While Inaki Williams scored a goal and assisted his brother Nico Williams for Athletic Bilbao in Spanish Copa Del Rey encounter against Barcelona just 48 hours after Ghana exited from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. However, this impressive display raises questions about why the Black Stars have struggled in international tournaments despite individual players performing for their various clubs.

The Stars have failed in the recent international competition like the AFCON and the FIFA World Cup. What could be the cause of the National team’s abysmal performance?

It is very imperative to note that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has had four different head coaches since 2019, CK Akonnor , Milovan, Otto Addo and Chris Hughton.

Hiring and sacking coaches could potentially contribute to instability within the team and make it difficult to achieve consistent success. Additionally, there may be challenges related to player selection, player attitude and formations, as well as issues with team cohesion and chemistry.

Some critics argue that there are specific areas where the GFA and the Black Stars need improvement. For example, there may be a lack of investment in youth development programs, which could limit the pool of talent available in Ghana .

Moreover, there could be issues with player recruitment and retention, as well as insufficient training facilities and resources. Furthermore, there have been instances of internal conflicts within the GFA, including allegations of corruption and mismanagement. These kinds of distractions can detract from the team’s focus on the field and affect their performance.

In light of these factors, it is possible that a combination of both individual brilliance and systemic issues is contributing to Ghana’s abysmal performance in international tournaments while players like

Ayew and Inaki Williams excel for their club, and the same cannot always be said for the Black Stars.

This suggests that there may be deeper-seated problems within the team and the GFA that need to be addressed if Ghana hopes to improve its performances in future AFCON tournaments.

By Francis Agbetsise