Kurt Okraku Admits Ghana’s AFCON Failure Is Lowest Point of His Tenure
President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has described Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the most painful moment of his football administration.
The Black Stars missed out on Africa’s biggest football tournament for the first time in over 20 years, after an underwhelming qualification campaign that sparked public outrage and criticism directed at the GFA. The 2025 edition of the AFCON is set to take place in Morocco later this year.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Okraku opened up about the disappointment and the emotional toll it took on him, reflecting on the tough realities of managing Ghanaian football since taking office in 2019.
“When I took over in 2019, there was one phrase that I used, which was that the road ahead of us would be tough, but by the mercies of God, we would get through,” he said.
The GFA President explained that when he assumed office, football in Ghana was at a standstill, and rebuilding the sport required time and patience.
“I knew the state of football when I took over after our internal analysis. At that time, there was no football, so our responsibility at that time was to resurrect football and by doing that, we knew we could not win all games, but what shocked me was the level we descended to.”
Okraku admitted that Ghana’s poor outings at the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments, coupled with the failure to reach the 2025 edition, marked the most difficult period of his football leadership.
“We played AFCON in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, and we did not perform. Last year, we did not qualify for the AFCON in Morocco, and that was perhaps my lowest footballing career, thinking that we would participate in the AFCON,” he revealed.
Despite the heartbreak, Okraku remains confident about the future of Ghanaian football. He stressed that the GFA is committed to long-term structural reforms and sustained performance across all national teams.
“As leaders, we came together to find solutions to the challenge because at the end of the day, it is not only about qualifying for the AFCON but performing at all levels,” he added.
While missing out on AFCON remains a bitter blow, Ghanaian fans can find solace in the Black Stars’ qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Okraku believes will serve as a springboard for the nation’s football revival.
