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Former Black Stars coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has expressed his disbelief over Ghana’s slow start in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, stating he “can’t imagine” the team failing to secure a spot in next year’s tournament.
Ghana’s national team has struggled in the early stages of the campaign, earning only two points from a possible nine after two draws against Niger and Sudan and a loss to Angola. Currently, the Black Stars sit third in Group F and must win all three of their remaining matches to ensure qualification.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoySports, Akonnor expressed optimism about the team’s chances despite the difficult situation. “I can’t imagine them not qualifying for AFCON. They must do it. It’s possible; we have the talent to make it happen,” he said.
Ghana’s next match is against Sudan on October 10, in Libya, where they will be seeking their first victory of the qualifiers. Akonnor emphasized the need to win the remaining games, saying, “We don’t have any other choice than to win. If you can go to Mali to win convincingly, I think you can win against Sudan. Then, Angola compared to Mali is not a big deal. All we need now is to win.”
Akonnor, who coached the Black Stars from January 2020 until September 2021, was dismissed after a string of poor results, including a crucial 1-0 defeat to South Africa during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Despite his departure, Akonnor remains hopeful that the team can turn things around and secure their spot in the 2025 AFCON.
