It has been quite an eventful sporting year for Ghana. From football and boxing to athletics, and other sporting disciplines that may not have media prominence, there are things to say about the strides or slips we made international competitions.
I do not intend to be elaborate. In my snapshot review of 2024, I pay attention to the 2023 AFCON, which was early this year in Cote d’Ivoire; Dreams FC’s stellar show in their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, Ghana hosting of the 13th Africa Games (moved from 2023 to 2024) in Accra, and the Paris Olympic Games.
Without mincing words, the Black Stars at the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire were a disaster, failing yet again to advance beyond the group stage. It was the second time the team had gone to an AFCON and could not win a game, leaving little doubts about how our national pride is progressively sinking into irrelevance on the African football terrain.
Chris Hughton, the coach was sacked. Otto Addo was shopped and returned to head the Black Stars technical team in the most bizarre circumstance as he did not meet the very standard the GFA setup. As if to be exposed by that lousy decision making and others, the Black Stars could not qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Dreams FC’s brilliant show in Africa was a bright spot. Sprinting from the unknown to a dignifying semifinal place and battling Egyptian giant Zamalek to an engaging goalless drawn game in Cairo only to be thrashed 3-0 in Kumasi, might have been an anticlimax; a delightful dream abruptly cut short by inexperience.
Nevertheless, Dreams FC’s fine run was a testament to what can happen to our club football if there are good plans and resources managed well. Talking about planning, Ghana may have been late and saddled with avoidable organisational problems, yet Africa was pleased with us for welcoming and hosting a memorable Africa Games in which our Arm-wrestling team dazzled to win medals amongst other exciting events.
Same dazzling shows were not seen of Ghana, sadly, at the Paris Olympic Games. Whether high jump or Men's 4x100 Relay, where our hopes were, our athletes did not glitter. Golden glories we wish for Ghana sports would have to wait for next year and beyond; hat is if something dramatic would change with our sports administration.