Former Management Committee Member of the Black Stars, Ernest Thompson, has described Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as deeply embarrassing.

Ghana's inability to progress from a group that included Sudan, Niger, and Angola marks the first time in over two decades that the Black Stars will miss Africa’s premier football competition.

Thompson, speaking on JoySports Link on Joy FM, did not hold back in his assessment of the situation.

“Simply put, the situation we find ourselves in is extremely embarrassing. Of course, we've missed the AFCON about six times. I remember when Rwanda took us off [in 2003] and we couldn't go to one [in 2004], but this is extremely embarrassing for a lot of reasons, none the least being the fact that the team itself is not playing well,” he said.

He emphasised that while missing out on qualification in football can happen, the current situation is compounded by the poor performance of the team over an extended period.

“If the team is playing well and we don't qualify, that's football, but the team is not playing well and has not been playing well for a very long time. I can put my foot down and say that maybe after Brazil [2014 World Cup], we have not been good, and I can say that maybe there's something wrong somewhere,” he added.

The former head of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Legal Committee chairman, revealed that his engagements with key stakeholders, including former foreign coaches and top GFA officials, suggest deeper systemic problems within the team.

“Fortunately for me, I have access. I have spoken to the people at the top of the FA, I have spoken to some of our past foreign coaches, and it's extremely embarrassing the kind of things we hear,” he noted.

He called for immediate and decisive action to address the issues plaguing the Black Stars, cautioning that failure to act could have long-lasting consequences.

“What is important for now is that we need cool heads and to take drastic decisions. If we don't have the leaders to take the drastic decisions, we will just tingle with things and we will be where we are,” he warned.

He expressed optimism that recovery is possible but stressed that it depends on the decisions made at this critical juncture.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel, but it depends on what decisions we take now because what I hear talking to them is extremely frightening. Unfortunately, my good friends at the FA; those at the top have brought something upon themselves, and if they don’t take care, the fire will engulf them.”

Despite the embarrassment, Thompson sees an opportunity for the GFA to reset and rebuild Ghana football.

“So it’s extremely embarrassing, but we should take what has happened now as an opportunity to get things back. But it demands drastic decisions to be taken,” he concluded.