Former Black Stars Head coach, CK Akonnor, has offered a candid assessment of the player selection process during his time at the helm, describing it as “uncomfortable” and lacking cohesion.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Akonnor, who led the national team between 2020 and 2021, highlighted the challenges he faced when picking players, revealing that his choices often came under scrutiny from members of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
“As a coach, you draw up a list of players based on your plans, but other members of the FA would also bring their views, which sometimes made the process uncomfortable,” he said. “It wasn’t a situation where we worked together—it was a mess.”
Akonnor, a former Wolfsburg captain, lamented the lack of collaboration, adding, “I understand that football isn’t a one-man job, but in my case, defending my selections always felt awkward.”
The revelations will add fuel to a long-standing debate over interference in the Black Stars’ affairs, an issue that has drawn criticism from fans and stakeholders alike.
Akonnor’s tenure ended in 2021 after Ghana’s disappointing start to the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Since then, the Black Stars have struggled to regain their status as continental heavyweights, failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations—a further blow to their reputation.
The team’s last appearance in a major competition knockout stage was in 2019, a stark contrast to their glory years as perennial title contenders.
Akonnor’s comments are likely to reignite discussions on how administrative interference impacts the performance and progress of Ghana’s senior national team.
