https://www.myjoyonline.com/we-should-have-a-plan-beyond-profits-ck-akonnor-on-ghana-football-decline/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/we-should-have-a-plan-beyond-profits-ck-akonnor-on-ghana-football-decline/

Former Black Stars coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has advised the Ghana Football Association to institute a structural reset of national teams to improve the fortunes of football in the country.

Akonnor's comments are the latest in what has been a national inquest into the decaying performance of Ghana's national teams, following the Black Stars' failure to qualify for AFCON 2025.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, Akonnor who coached Ghana between 2019 and 2021, explained why a holistic reset was the only way.

''We need to have a plan that goes beyond profitability. We need to look at our youth football, you know. If we don't do it now, we are already late. We have to look at our Under 17, Under 20, Under 20 the local Black Stars (the Black Stars B), and then the senior national team,'' he told JoySports Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo.

For the first time in twenty years, Ghana failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations after Friday's 1-1 draw with Angola.

It follows successive group stage exits at the AFCON (AFCON 2021 and AFCON 2023 in Cameroun and Cote d'Ivoire respectively.)

Aside from winning the African Games gold in March, Ghana's youth teams; the Black Starlets and the Black Satellites have not fared any better.

Reflecting on the trend, Akonnor said Ghana needs to it its past for inspiration.

''If we don't start to really strategize how to go about it, we will continue to talk about it - the decline of Ghana football, like the way we are talking now. Where did the Asamoah Gyans, the Stephen Appiahs, and Laryea Kingstons… the best generation we have had (come from)?''

''From the Under 17. You would be surprised that Laryea Kingston and Godwin Attram knew each other and had been playing together since (they were) ten years (old). So there was some progression and cohesion so when the country needed them, they delivered.''

Ghana will play Niger on Monday afternoon in a dead rubber, Group F AFCON 2025 qualifier.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.


DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.