Withdrawing from AFCON qualifiers would be ‘senseless’ – Mohammed Polo

Ghana's revered football icon Mohammed Polo has dismissed suggestions that the Black Stars should withdraw from the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, calling the notion "senseless." The four-time African champions have struggled in their opening matches of the qualifying campaign, losing their first two games against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

This has left Ghana at the bottom of Group C without any points, sparking concerns about their chances of making it to the AFCON, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Despite the poor start, Polo believes the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and team's management should not consider pulling out of the qualifiers.

Instead, he urges them to assess their shortcomings and develop solutions. "I don’t think it’s the right thing to do that. No, that is not the right thing," Polo stated to Citi Sports. He believes the quality of the current players is different from two years ago and emphasizes the need for the right technical leadership to maximize their potential.

"We need a technical person who can help them and add some value to what they have," Polo said. The Black Stars will have another chance to improve their standing in November when they face Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium. Currently under pressure after missing the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Ghana faces more challenges if they fail to reverse their fortunes in the remaining qualifiers.