Kudjoe Fianoo calls for accountability after Black Stars' poor start to AFCON qualifiers

Former Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) chairman Kudjoe Fianoo has called for greater accountability in Ghana football, insisting that officials involved in decisions affecting the Black Stars must take responsibility for the team's results.

Ghana have endured a disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, losing 2-0 to Ivory Coast away from home before suffering a 4-2 defeat by The Gambia in Accra.

The results leave the Black Stars bottom of Group C without a point from their opening two matches.

Speaking on Sporty FM, Fianoo questioned the processes behind the formation of the national team's technical team, arguing that those responsible for key decisions should be held accountable when things go wrong.

The veteran football administrator said losing a tournament was part of the game, provided a team had given its best, but expressed concern about Ghana's approach to competitions.

“You can lose a competition or a tournament, and everybody would say you've done your best. But the way you go into a tournament and you know we won't even win one match,” he said.

Fianoo also challenged the notion that coaching appointments were decisions made solely by the individual selected to lead the team.

“Who put together the technical team? I don't think any coach will just come and say, ‘I want to coach the Black Stars,’ and the Black Stars will be given to him. Assessments are done,” he stated.

He insisted that officials involved in those assessments and appointments should share responsibility for the team's performance, rather than taking credit only when results are positive.

“And you take all the credit when things go right,” Fianoo added.

The former GHALCA chairman further warned that failure to qualify for the 2027 AFCON would raise serious questions about the management and direction of the national team.

“I'm not saying that GFA should be dissolved just by speculation or some flimsy [reasons]. But for the Black Stars to even fail to qualify for AFCON, I don't think there is any worse performance than that,” he said.

Fianoo also argued that the challenges facing Ghana football extend beyond the senior national team, which he described as the country's flagship side.

“The Black Stars are the flagship. But from the ground to the top, things are not working,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed that an interim technical team will lead the Black Stars in their two-legged 2027 AFCON qualifying tie against Somalia in November.

The association has also extended the deadline for applications for the vacant head coach position to 15 October 2026.