Ghanaian Football Under Scrutiny: Analysts Decry Quality and Financial Woes

ACCRA, Ghana – Sports analysts on Angel TV's "Floodlight Sports" program have voiced strong disappointment regarding the current state of Ghanaian football, directly challenging recent remarks by the MTN FA Cup chairman. The discussion centered on the perceived decline in player quality, the competitiveness of the league, and its financial viability. One analyst, Benji, expressed dismay, stating, "He's talking based on competition... This season, when the FA Cup came, to the extent that... they say the quality is very good. It's not good at all." He highlighted that despite some lower division teams reaching semi-finals, the overall player quality in Ghana's league is lacking. "If you look at the way academies are packed, competition is at a low level," he added, noting that young Ghanaian talents often struggle to transition to mainstream European football due to quality issues. The discussion also heavily focused on the financial aspects of the league. "Financially, we cannot say the same. The commercial aspect and economically, we cannot use that to say the quality is there," another analyst stated. He pointed out that the entire Ghanaian league's market value is estimated at only 29 million Euros, a stark contrast to other leagues. Concerns were raised about clubs' inability to attract sponsors and TV rights, leading to complaints about accountability and impacting the league's reputation. "The sponsors are complaining about accountability and financial issues," he emphasized. The analysts concluded that while there might be some individual talent, the systemic issues, particularly financial ones, are holding back Ghanaian football. They stressed that until these fundamental problems are addressed, the league's quality and reputation will continue to suffer.