Former Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien, has urged Ghanaian football fans to move on from Ghana’s monumental failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.

Ghana will not be present at the competition for the first time in 21 years, when 24 of Africa’s best teams gather in Morocco later this year to compete for the AFCON trophy. 

Essien, in an interview with Accra based Sporty FM, cast doubts over the team’s ability to compete, if they had qualified, and wants what happened to be left in the past.

“I would say I was surprised we didn’t make it to the AFCON, but there’s a whole lot going on with the Black Stars. 

“It is sad but we have to move on. What has happened has happened, and sometimes it’s better not to qualify than to just add to the numbers. 

“If you qualify you have to compete,” he said.

Ghana returns to action for the first time since the AFCON qualification failure on Friday, when they host Chad in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.