Michael Essien
Former Ghana international Michael Essien has described the Black Stars failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as a significant setback, urging the team to quickly move past the disappointment.
Ghana endured a difficult qualifying campaign, finishing bottom of their group after six matches without a win.
The team recorded three draws and three defeats, a result that saw the four-time African champions miss out on the continental tournament hosted in Morocco for the first time in more than two decades.
Reflecting on the outcome, Essien acknowledged the pain of the early exit but emphasized the need for resilience and focus on future opportunities.
“Of course it was a big disappointment, [but] in football, you have to move on from that,” Essien told FIFA.com.
“The good thing in football is you always have the next game to make things right,” he added.
Despite the AFCON disappointment, the Black Stars have since bounced back by securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Ghana will be making its fifth appearance at the tournament and has been drawn in a challenging Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
The Black Stars will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
