Nana Oduro Sarfo, a member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council, has acknowledged that the handling of the Black Stars’ captaincy has been poorly managed in the past, resulting in unnecessary controversies and uncertainty within the national team.
In an interview with Connect 97.1 FM, Oduro Sarfo admitted that the various leadership changes over the years have not been smoothly executed, leading to tensions among players and fans alike.
“Captaincy issues have truly caused a lot of challenges for the Black Stars. While these decisions primarily fall under the coach’s authority, I agree that they have been mishandled over the years,” he said
The Black Stars have experienced several captaincy disputes, with one of the most notable being the 2019 controversy when Asamoah Gyan was replaced by Andre Ayew as captain ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This decision sparked unrest within the team, leading to Gyan’s initial retirement from international football, a decision later reversed after intervention from the presidency.
Similarly, in the mid-2000s, the removal of Stephen Appiah as captain also caused division within the squad.
Oduro Sarfo’s comments have highlighted the growing frustration over leadership struggles in the Black Stars, with many now calling for a more open, transparent, and structured approach to selecting captains.
Given that Ghana has not made a significant impact on the international stage in recent years, stakeholders believe resolving these internal issues will be key to the team’s future success.