Ghana Black Stars had a very disappointing run of form during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ivory Coast, leading to their early exit at the group stage, marking their second consecutive early exit after also crashing out in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under the leadership of the then coach, Chris Houghton.

After playing three games, they won none, securing only two points. About three (3) years down the line, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has revealed that he anticipated the Black Stars’ disappointing performance.

Speaking during an appearance on Asaase Radio, Okraku admitted: “To be honest, going into that tournament, I was not expecting something different, and I told people close to me that it would not work for us because I knew the team and knew the happenings, and we exited the competition at the group phase.

“When we came home, there was a need for us to look at what we did, but unfortunately, we started declining as well, and we failed to qualify for the last AFCON.”

He added that the team’s struggles continued upon returning home, ultimately resulting in Ghana missing qualification for the next AFCON.

Reflecting on recent successes, Okraku praised the GFA Executive Council for taking decisive action that helped the team secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

“Ghana spoke after that, and it was very loud, and as a leader, I listened to everybody, and we all agreed that there was a need for a reset and to be honest with ourselves.

“We needed to know what was fundamentally wrong with us and fix it. After listening to the Executive Council, we made the right decisions, and we qualified for the 2026 World Cup,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Black Stars coach Chris Hughton believes he may have provided better results if he had been given more time as head coach in 2023.

Speaking with TV3’s Owuraku Ampofo in an interview aired on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Irish-born Ghanaian cited his upbringing in Ireland and the football structure there, which he noted is quite different from that in Africa, particularly Ghana. He also highlighted that managing a club was quite different from managing a national team.

He believes that having a little more time to adjust would have made his tenure as head coach more effective.

“And I’ll speak about the Black Stars, but this can apply anywhere in Africa. For someone who spent all of their time in England as a player, then as an assistant coach and later as a head coach or manager, it was very different. But there’s also the reality of the Black Stars' role and managing in Africa, which is very different.

“The levels of structure and organisation you’re used to at club level, where everything is day-to-day, are very different in international football, and of course, working in Africa adds another layer. It takes time to adjust. So, regarding my role… would I have wanted more time? Yes, of course. I genuinely feel that with more time, I would have adjusted better”, he noted.

He continued, “One reason is that it’s international football, and it was my first time managing at that level. That alone takes some time to adjust to. I was used to working with players all week, preparing for a game, and then preparing for the next one.

“In international football, you can have the players for just two days before your first game. And in those two days, there’s only so much you can do. So, one challenge is adjusting to the international game,” as he reflected on the demands of international management and the challenges of transitioning from club football.

Chris Hughton was sacked as Black Stars head coach on 23 January 2024, after Ghana’s final group game against Mozambique at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He served as head coach for about 11 months, and before that, he was assistant/technical advisor for roughly 13 months.

Chris Hughton's remarks come at a time when the Black Stars are reported to have seen a dip in form following their defeat in their last friendlies.

Ghana suffered a 0-2 defeat to Japan in their preparatory match against Japan earlier today, Friday, November 14, at the Toyota Stadium, Aichi.

Japan notched their first goal just fifteen minutes into the game courtesy of Takumi Minamino. Japan dominated at a point after the possession was shared by both teams for a long period, giving Ghana a hard time breaking into their defence.

Meanwhile, Ghana Black Stars have booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Consequently, the government has announced a (GHS 150million) hundred and fifty million(($13m) to fund the team's preparations for the World’s biggest football tournament.

During the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement by the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, on the floor of Parliament yesterday, he explained that,

“The government’s sustained investment in sports yielded impressive results, with the Black Stars qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. An amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated for the Black Stars to participate in the World Cup,” he stated.

Dr Forson explained that the funding underscores the government’s wider strategy to support national teams competing on the global stage and to strengthen sports development nationwide.

He added that the government remains committed to improving sports infrastructure and nurturing talent across the country, noting that plans are underway to build new stadiums in selected regions.

The Minister went on to commend the Black Stars for their hard work, which has led Ghana to secure its fifth qualification, cementing their place among Africa’s most consistent footballing nations.

“Mr Speaker. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge the resilience and commitment of our Black Stars, whose qualification for the World Cup continues to inspire the nation”, Dr Forson noted.