'An Absolute Embarrassment'- Reo-Coker Dissects Ghana's AFCON Failure
Former West Ham United captain Nigel Reo-Coker says it is an embarrassment that Ghana will not feature at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The four-time African champions finished bottom of their qualifying group, failing to win a game and losing to minnows Sudan and Niger along the way.
The performance of the Black Stars at recent AFCONS have been nothing to write home about as they keep underperforming despite boasting some of the brightest talents on the continent.
It is the first time since the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia that Ghana will not be involved in the continent's flagship football tournament.
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, Reo-Coker said: "This is the darkest moment for Ghanaian football. It's the first time since 2004 that they've missed out on qualification. There needs to be a rigorous clean-up process.
"This isn’t just any team; this is Ghana, the home of legends like Michael Essien and the emerging star Kudus. Not qualifying is simply unacceptable," he emphasized.
"There’s a clear lack of direction and failures from Ghana's side. Historically, North African nations have dominated, with Morocco and Algeria leading the charge. In recent years, Ivory Coast and Senegal have stepped up as the benchmarks of African football. Even smaller nations like Cape Verde are beginning to make waves," he explained.
"It’s a disgrace for a nation of Ghana's stature, a powerhouse of African football, to be watching AFCON from the sidelines. It's frankly heartbreaking," Reo-Coker concluded.
