The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, has told Black Stars players that the team existed before they were born.

Otto Addo’s squad has had a difficult start to their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and drawing 1-1 with Niger in Morocco.

The team’s underwhelming performance has drawn significant criticism from Ghanaians, as their current position in Group F remains uninspiring.

The Black Stars are set to face Sudan in a double-header AFCON qualifier, with the first match scheduled for Thursday, October 10th, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Okraku visited the team’s camp on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, encouraging them to learn from their past mistakes against Angola and Niger.

"In 1957, Ghana gained independence, led by men with courage; men who did not flee from the battlefield. That’s why we achieved independence," he said.

"When [Mohammed] Kudus, you weren’t born, this team—Black Stars—already existed. Alexander [Djiku], before you were born, this team called Black Stars was here. So, before any of you were born, Black Stars existed.

"The question now is, in your time, what will be the difference? The difference lies in what you do with the opportunities given to you."

Ghana return to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers action this month when they face Sudan in a doubleheader with the first encounter set for the Accra Sports Stadium on October 10.