Ghanaian clubs hardly excel in CAF inter club competitions lately. Aside Dreams FC who in 2024 reached the Confederation Cup semifinal, our clubs either do not qualify for the league stage of these competitions or when they do, they exit early.
Asante Kotoko have for instance disappointed even at home in their last African sojourns. The last time Hearts of Oak were in Africa, they were slaughtered 10-1 on aggregate by WAC of Morocco, affirming the strength of North African sides.
The pivot of African club football is in North Africa. South Africa and, East Africa are however resurrecting with Mamelodi Sundowns and Tanzanian teams showing up well in various competitions. Ghanaian and West African clubs are missing.
The reason is: While clubs in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, and Tanzania are building structures and wide-ranging investments, some backed by the benevolence of their millionaire owners, Ghanaian clubs like Kotoko and Hearts have lost the plot to having basic management structures.
South Africa and Morocco's investment in infrastructure, youth development, and sports governance systems alone explain their growth. A FIFA High-Performance Specialist, Faisal A. Chibsah shared insights on club managerial structures and their impact on performance on social media and I could not agree with him more.
“A strong club structure is the backbone of sustained success on the pitch” he posted on his X (Twitter) handle. “While talent and tactics are vital, they can only flourish within an environment that fosters stability, development, and strategic alignment. Clear Vision and Identity, Effective Talent Development, Strategic Recruitment, Club Culture and Unity, Sustainable Financial Management” he added.
“Success on the pitch is not just about having great players—it is about fostering a system that empowers them to excel. A weak structure leads to inconsistent performance, managerial instability, and short-term thinking.” The above partly and aptly underscores why clubs in Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania excel in Africa while ours seem clueless. When would the status quo change?