Ghana must rebuild from the grassroots to regain football glory – Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has urged football authorities to prioritise grassroots development, insisting it is the only way Ghana can restore its status as one of Africa's football powerhouses.

His remarks follow the Black Stars' disappointing exit from the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.

Speaking to Graphic Sports, the Hearts of Oak board member said Ghana's football development structure no longer meets the standards required to compete consistently at the highest level.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe stressed that the country's revival depends on a deliberate, long-term strategy centred on identifying and nurturing young talent.

"If we want to achieve anything in football, we must plan and organise from the grassroots. We must identify and develop more local talent," he said.

He also called on Ghana to emulate Morocco's football development model, which he credited for the North African nation's remarkable rise on the global stage.

According to him, Morocco's success is the product of sustained investment in youth development, with talented players identified early and guided through a structured pathway to elite football.

"We must adopt the Moroccan strategy," he said, adding that many of the teams excelling at the World Cup had youthful squads developed through deliberate long-term planning.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe further lamented what he described as the disappearance of Ghana's traditional football identity, urging the national team's technical handlers to restore the aggressive and entertaining style that once defined the Black Stars.

"Our style of football has disappeared, and it must be brought back. We must be aggressive," he said.

Although the Black Stars reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 2010, their campaign ended in the Round of 32 after defeat to Colombia.

The four-time African champions will now turn their attention to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.