Mohammed Polo questions Black Stars’ performances after poor AFCON qualifying start

Former Ghana international Mohammed Ahmed Polo has questioned the Black Stars’ recent performances, saying the quality and experience within the squad should be delivering better results.

Ghana endured a disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, suffering consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Polo believes the current generation of players has access to better facilities, support and playing conditions through their involvement in well-established European leagues but has failed to replicate that quality consistently at international level.

Speaking in an interview with Class FM, the former Hearts of Oak star dismissed suggestions that poor pitches and financial difficulties were responsible for the team's struggles.

“They are the best if you look at their performance in their various European clubs. They are doing marvellous work, but what is happening? Nobody will convince me that it is because the terrain is not good, the field is not good, or the money is not there,” he said.

Polo also identified coaching as a major factor behind Ghana's disappointing performances, expressing concern over the lack of cohesion and understanding in the team's style of play despite several changes to the technical setup.

“Coaching is part of it. It’s a major part of the problem. We’ve been bringing them; they’ve been coming and going, but we don’t see that sort of understanding and chemistry in the football that we know we play. It’s not being played now,” he added.

The former Ghana midfielder further argued that the current generation should be performing better than his era, considering the improved conditions and resources available to modern-day footballers.

“I am expecting that they should even do better than us,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars have arrived in Sekondi ahead of their double-header against Somalia in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

Both matches will be played at the Essipong Sports Stadium, with Ghana seeking to revive their qualification hopes after losing their opening two fixtures.

Ghana, who missed out on the previous edition of the tournament, will be targeting victories in both encounters to get their campaign back on track.