Veteran Ghanaian coach, Karim Zito, has highlighted a lack of consistency and continuity as key factors contributing to the decline of Ghanaian football. In recent years, the country's football scene has experienced a noticeable downturn. Although the Black Queens secured a return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2018, the Black Stars, Ghana's senior men's national team, have struggled to maintain their competitive edge.
The Black Stars’ disappointing record includes consecutive group-stage exits from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), compounded by their failure to qualify for the 2025 edition. This marks the first time in two decades that Ghana will miss the prestigious tournament.
In an interview with Graphic Sports, Zito attributed these challenges to the country's failure to establish a structured and sustainable player development system. He emphasized that without a solid succession plan, Ghana’s footballing future on the international stage remains uncertain.
Zito pointed out that the absence of continuity in nurturing young talent has become Ghana's greatest weakness in football. He lamented that, in the past, players would naturally progress through the ranks, but today, teams are dismantled after each competition, with fresh scouting efforts starting from scratch.
The former Asante Kotoko coach, who led the Black Satellites to victory at the 2021 U-20 AFCON, expressed his frustration with the practice of disbanding junior teams after tournaments. He believes this approach has significantly hindered the development of young footballers and prevented them from making a seamless transition to the senior national team.
“We need consistency in player development. If a player features for the under-17 team, he should automatically move up to the under-19 side. It doesn’t make sense to discard them and start anew after each tournament,” Zito asserted.
Despite leading the Black Satellites to continental glory in 2021, many of the talented players from that squad have yet to break into the senior Black Stars team. Zito sees this as a direct consequence of Ghana’s flawed player development system, which he believes continues to undermine the country’s potential in international football.
Source; theghanareport
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