Ghana football deserves better – Seth Panwum after Black Stars’ back-to-back AFCON qualifying defeats

Former National Sports Authority chief Seth Panwum has voiced frustration over Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, after consecutive defeats in their opening matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Black Stars currently have no points from their first two Group C matches, casting serious doubt over their chances of reaching the tournament in Morocco.

The team's campaign started poorly with a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast in Bouake, followed by a dramatic 4-2 defeat to The Gambia at Accra Sports Stadium. Panwum emphasized that the Black Stars are the people of Ghana, not the property of any single entity, and called for accountability from those responsible for the national team. Head coach Carlos Queiroz resigned following the two defeats, and a five-member committee has been formed to recommend a replacement, with their report due to the Sports Ministry by 9 October.

With this poor start, securing a spot at the 2027 AFCON finals has become a challenging task for Ghana. The team will return to action in October with a crucial double-header against Somalia at Accra Sports Stadium, aiming to redeem themselves after failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.