Ghana’s struggles at the national team level reflect long-standing weaknesses in grassroots football development, according to Nicholas Ayidah, an Executive Council Member of the Regional Football Association.
Mr Ayidah said the recent poor performances of the Black Stars, including failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, highlight systemic issues in talent development and transition from youth to senior levels.
“What we are seeing in the Black Stars is a reflection of what is happening at the grassroots,” he said.
He noted that Ghana has historically failed to properly transition talented youth players into the senior national team, with the exception of the successful Under-20 squad that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009.
“That was the only group that had a proper transition into the Black Stars, and it gave us a strong team for years,” he said.
Mr Ayidah said many talented players at the school level fail to progress due to limited opportunities and weak development structures.
However, he acknowledged improvements in recent years, citing youth competitions and increased scouting activity by clubs and agents.
He urged stakeholders to revive structured development plans and ensure continuity in football policies to sustain progress.
“We had a system that worked before. The question is, what went wrong, and why can’t we return to it?” he said.
