The Black Stars will begin assembling in camp from Monday (March 17, 2025) to prepare for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar. 

Ghanaians have always stood by the national team, either cheering through victories or agonising through defeats, but the pain of recent failures has left even the most loyal supporters disillusioned.

It is no secret that the love for the Black Stars has dwindled in recent years, attributable to a series of heartbreaking disappointments.

The most painful of them all is the failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) — the first time in two decades that Ghana will be absent from the continental showpiece.

For a nation that prides itself on being a football powerhouse, finishing bottom of the AFCON qualifying group behind Angola, Sudan and Niger is simply unacceptable.

This was not just a failure; it was an embarrassment. A country that once dominated African football and reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 now finds it difficult to beat teams that were once considered underdogs.

Where did it all go wrong?

But perhaps the most frustrating thing is that we keep believing. We keep hoping that the team will turn things around, only to be met with disappointment time and again.

And yet, the passion of the Ghanaian football fan remains unmatched.

Even after the Black Stars’ disastrous exit from the last two AFCON tournaments in the group stage, fans still filled stadiums and tuned in to watch their games.

Hopefully, with the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the Black Stars have a golden opportunity to make amends and restore the faith of the fans.

But this cannot be achieved by mere words and promises. Ghanaians are tired of excuses.

The only way to win back the love of the supporters is through results—by winning matches, playing with passion, and showing commitment on the pitch.

The head coach, Otto Addo, and his players must understand that they owe Ghanaians a response.

This is not just about football; it is about national pride.

The Black Stars are not just a team; they represent the hopes and dreams of millions of Ghanaians.

Every victory lifts the spirit of the nation; every defeat crushes it.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) also has a responsibility to fix the many issues plaguing the team.

From poor management decisions to lack of proper scouting and player development, the problems run deep.

If structural changes are needed to ensure success, then they must be made without hesitation.

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has rightly called for accountability following the AFCON qualification disaster.

The GFA cannot simply take "collective responsibility" without making bold decisions to correct the errors.

If certain officials or decision-makers are not delivering, they must be replaced. Ghanaians deserve better.

Similarly, the players must recognise that representing Ghana is a privilege, not a right.

Wearing the Black Stars jersey should mean everything to them, and they must fight for the badge every time they step onto the pitch.

Anything short of that is a betrayal of the unwavering support Ghanaians have given them.

As Ghana prepares to face Chad and Madagascar, we remind the Black Stars of one thing: Ghanaians will always love football.

But it is time for them to return that love with performances that make the country proud.

The days of empty slogans and unfulfilled promises are over.

This is the moment to rewrite the story, to bring back the glorious days, and to make the Black Stars shine again.

The choice is simple: win back our trust or continue to lose the nation’s faith.