Investing in youth and establishing academies will help revive Black Stars - Stephen Appiah

Former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah has offered a piece of advice on how the senior national team can reclaim its glory days.

The four-time African champions have struggled to perform in major tournaments.

Since making history in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup by playing in the quarterfinals of the World Cup and playing in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, the team has struggled in recent times.

The Black Stars exited at the group phase of the 2014 and 2022 World Cups in Brazil and Qatar respectively. During the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, the team again exited at the group phase.

Upon appearing before the Parliamentary Select Committee last week, Appiah who began his journey with the national U-17 team (Black Starlets) before progressing through the U-20 (Black Satellites) and U-23 (Black Meteors) sides, underscored the need for a clear strategy to develop young talent and ensure 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," he said.

"We need to invest in our youth; that’s where the future of the Black Stars lies. By establishing better youth academies and training facilities, we can nurture talent from a young age.

"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.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars will regroup for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a doubleheader against Sudan scheduled for next month.

Otto Addo's side will host the Falcons on Friday, October 11 before travelling to Libya for the return leg at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Monday, October 14.

The Black Stars are with a win after losing to Angola and drawing with Niger in their first two games which leaves at the 3rd spot in Group F.