Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has shared critical insights on how Ghana's national football team can reclaim its former glory. The four
Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has shared critical insights on how Ghana’s national football team can reclaim its former glory.
The four-time African champions have struggled in recent years, facing significant challenges in major tournaments.
Since their impressive quarterfinal run in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and their appearance in the finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Black Stars have not fared well.
The team was eliminated in the group stages of the World Cups in Brazil (2014) and Qatar (2022). They also failed to advance beyond the group stage in the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments held in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, respectively.
During a recent session with the Parliamentary Select Committee, Appiah, who rose through the ranks from the U-17 (Black Starlets) to U-20 (Black Satellites) and U-23 (Black Meteors), emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive strategy for developing young talent and ensuring a seamless transition to the senior team.
“What we need is a clear plan for the Black Stars, not just for today but for the next decade,” Appiah stated. “We must invest in our youth; that’s where the future of the Black Stars lies.
By creating better youth academies and training facilities, we can nurture talent from a young age.”
He stressed the importance of establishing pathways that allow young players to smoothly integrate into the national team while honing their skills in a structured environment.
“It’s essential to create pathways for these young players to transition smoothly into the national team and develop their skills in a structured environment,” he added.
The Black Stars are gearing up for their qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with a doubleheader against Sudan set for next month.
They will host Sudan on Friday, October 11, before traveling to Libya for the return match at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Monday, October 14.
Currently, the Black Stars sit in third place in Group F, having lost to Angola and drawn with Niger in their opening two matches.
Appiah’s insights serve as a clarion call for Ghanaian football to prioritize youth development to restore the national team’s competitive edge on the international stage.
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