Sulley Muntari blasts GFA over Black Stars’ captaincy

Former Ghana international Sulley Muntari has criticized the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for its poor handling of the Black Stars’ captaincy during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

He described the decision-making as “horribly” managed. His criticism follows a controversial leadership shuffle after regular captain Thomas Partey withdrew due to injury. The captaincy first went to Mohammed Kudus before shifting to Jordan Ayew.

Head coach Otto Addo initially named West Ham United midfielder Kudus as captain for Ghana’s October 2024 qualifier against Sudan. However, in the subsequent matches against Angola and Niger, Addo reassigned the armband to Jordan Ayew.

These abrupt changes created confusion, with many blaming the team’s disjointed performances on poor leadership decisions. The instability ultimately contributed to Ghana’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2025.

Muntari, a 2010 World Cup veteran, condemned the GFA, stating, “It was handled horribly. It is the FA. They can’t control themselves; that’s why that happened. Usually, the armband is handed to the most experienced one.”

As Ghana prepares for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March 2024, calls for clearer leadership protocols continue to grow. Many believe a structured approach is necessary to prevent further disruptions in the national team.