A renowned sports journalist, Veronica Commey, has expressed her heartbreak and disappointment following the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for AFCON 2025.

Appearing on Joy News’ PM Express on November 18, she did not mince words about the state of Ghana football, describing it as a wake-up call for those in charge of the sport.

“I am heartbroken, but not because I’m a Ghanaian...first of all, I’m a football fan. What it means is that I will be disappointed if we are unable to qualify for major competitions,” she began, reflecting the collective sentiment of a nation.

This failure marks the first time since 2004 that Ghana’s national football team has missed the Africa Cup of Nations, a stark departure from the team’s glory days.

Ms Commey highlighted how the Black Stars’ performance has been on a steady decline, starting with their exit in the Round of 16 in 2019, followed by group-stage exits in subsequent tournaments.

“We have been emphasising this since 2008. We made six semifinals, with two of them being finals. We would have expected to get better, but after 2019, it has been alarm bells all the way,” she stated.

Ms Commey believes the warning signs were evident long before the Black Stars’ recent failure.

She recounted the team’s inconsistent performances during the World Cup qualifiers and AFCON campaign, describing them as symptoms of deeper issues within Ghana football.

“When we started the qualifiers, it all looked good because we beat Mali and came home to win. But when we took off on the AFCON campaign, it was all telling,” she explained, referencing losses to Angola and Niger, as well as a draw with Sudan.

To her, these performances pointed to systemic problems that were ignored for too long.

“The alarm bells were sounding every day about the fact that there is something wrong,” she lamented.

Despite her heartbreak, Ms Commey viewed this failure as an opportunity for reflection and reform.

“If this is the lowest ever we need to get to so that those who are at the helm of our affairs, or those who care about football, would want to have a sit-down and look inward, then so be it,” she declared.

She called on stakeholders, from administrators to fans, to critically assess the current state of football in the country.

“If we don’t have a genuine look at what we can do, then days like this will keep happening,” she warned.

Ms Commey stated the far-reaching impact of football success on the nation’s morale.

“In reality, when the Black Stars or the national team starts doing well, it positively affects all of us,” she said.

The disappointment is not just about the game but also about the pride and unity the team brings to the country.

Her plea was clear: Ghana football needs an overhaul.

“Something is wrong, and until we admit it and take steps to fix it, this decline will continue,” she concluded.