Alexander Djiku urges Black Stars to move on from AFCON and World Cup disappointments and focus on future challenges

Ghana defender Alexander Djiku has called on the Black Stars to put their recent disappointments behind them and focus on building a stronger future for the national team.

Djiku expressed his frustration over Ghana’s decline in recent major tournaments, particularly the failure to progress beyond the group stage at the last two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competitions.

The experienced centre-back said Ghana’s rich football history and past successes have raised expectations among supporters, making the team’s recent struggles difficult to accept.

"You know, I feel very good because, also, you know, the Black Stars have four stars, we won a lot of African Cups, so it's a strong country. When I saw Black Stars in the past, they always went to the final and semi-final. So I was a little bit angry that we cannot get past the group stage," Djiku said.

Ghana, four-time African champions, suffered early exits from the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments, results that have increased calls for a rebuilding process within the national team.

However, Djiku believes dwelling on previous setbacks will not help Ghana’s ambitions, insisting the focus must now shift towards preparing for upcoming challenges and developing a new identity.

"I was there in the last two African Cups, but now it's far. We have to move forward and see what we can do in the next World Cup," he added.

The defender missed Ghana’s participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering an injury before the tournament, denying him the opportunity to represent the Black Stars on football’s biggest stage.

His return ahead of Ghana’s 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign will provide a major boost to the team’s defensive options, with the experienced defender expected to compete for a place in the squad when the qualifiers begin later this year.

Djiku remains a key figure for Ghana and will be hoping to play a role in the Black Stars’ efforts to return to continental prominence and challenge for major honours once again.