Assessing Ghana’s AFCON Failure: Winfred Dormon on Local Talent and Otto Addo’s Future

Ghana Black Stars will not partake in the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2004. They failed to win a single game in the six qualifying matches.

In an exclusive interview with Winfred Dormon, assistant coach of Ghana Premier League side Dreams FC, we delved into the Black Stars' failure to qualify for the prestigious tournament and what went wrong in their qualification campaign.

Dormon, who has closely worked with both local talent and the national team setup, shares his perspective on the induction of emerging local players into the Black Stars and the future of under-fire Black Stars coach Otto Addo.

Talents from the Ghana Premier League

Ghana Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has a proven track record of calling up players from the Ghana Premier League since his appointment.

He included two local players in his final squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has consistently maintained this approach throughout his second stint with the Black Stars.

In the final two AFCON qualifying matches, Addo not only called up local players but also gave them the opportunity to play and prove themselves—much to the delight of fans and coaches in the Ghana Premier League.

One player who stood out was Nations FC defender Razak Simpson, who featured in the last two games against Angola and Niger.

“The performances of the local players were impressive, especially Razak Simpson. It is a good value for the Ghana Premier League,” Winfred Dormon told SportsBoom.com. “I just hope it will continue, and more players get called up because we really have some good talent in the Ghana Premier League,” he added.

Five players from the local leagues made their debut in Ghana’s final two AFCON qualifying games—one of them being Jerry Afriyie, who scored on his debut against Niger in the last game.

Ghana Black Stars’ Recent Struggles

Ghana failed to win any of their six qualifying games, recording three draws and three defeats. Otto Addo's side scored only three goals and conceded seven in the process.

This disappointing record has drawn criticism from Ghanaians, who have raised concerns about the team's style of play and their inability to produce results despite having quality players in the squad.

Winfred Dormon believes that some of the factors contributing to the team's poor form are a lack of player commitment, as well as the high expectations placed on the team by Ghanaians.

“A lot of factors might have contributed to the recent decline of the Black Stars. Player commitment is key,” Winfred Dormon said.

Following Ghana's recent performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ghanaians expected the Black Stars to improve, starting with the qualifiers. Therefore, the failure to qualify came as a shock to many, as they couldn’t believe the team was unable to secure a spot.

“The high demands of the football fraternity in the country also put enormous pressure on the team, forcing them to deliver,” he added.

What’s Next for Otto Addo and the Black Stars?

After the disappointing AFCON qualifying campaign, many people, including fans and journalists, have called for the dismissal or resignation of Ghana coach Otto Addo.

However, Winfred Dormon isn’t advocating for Otto Addo’s outright dismissal. Instead, he advises that the Ghana FA thoroughly assess the coach's performance, with a decision to be made before the World Cup qualifiers.

“Unfortunately, I can’t say Otto Addo should be sacked or not, but I believe the authorities should assess him thoroughly,” Winfred told SportsBoom.com. “We have limited time before the World Cup qualifiers, and a lot can change. That decision to sack him or let him stay must be made circumspectly.”

Ghana has already missed out on qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, leaving the team with a major setback to overcome. With the World Cup qualifiers now on the horizon, it’s crucial that they maintain their strong start and avoid further disappointment.

The responsibility now lies with the Ghana Football Association to make a critical decision: whether to continue with Otto Addo as head coach or part ways with him before the World Cup qualifying matches next year.

The decision will have long-term implications for the future of the Black Stars and their hopes of returning to global prominence.