Legendary player and former Ghana football coach Malik Jabir has voiced worries about the status of Ghanaian football.
He thinks that emphasizing youth football development is the key to bringing the game back.
Jabir’s remarks coincide with a rising amount of frustration among Ghanaian football fans over the sport’s current path.
Hundreds of football fans demonstrated on February 14, 2024, under the banner “Save Ghana Football,” demanding changes to bring the game back to life.
The demonstrators gave Ghana’s MPs a 15-point petition with recommendations for improving the nation’s football situation.
In an interview with Akoma FM, Jabir emphasized the underwhelming performance of Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening and reconstructing the under-17, under-20, and under-23 squads.
Jabir also cited Mali’s and Senegal’s achievements in developing young players to facilitate a seamless transfer to their national sides.
He thinks that a comparable strategy could aid in creating a uniform and successful Black Stars squad.
“Ghana has faltered in defeating an African team on three consecutive occasions, yet people expect us to sing praises? That’s inaccurate,” he remarked to Akoma FM based in Kumasi.
“We must revert to youth football, reconstruct the U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams, and ensure a seamless transition for them, as Senegal and Mali have done. This approach will yield a consistent team for the Black Stars.
“We can’t deny that football is suffering when we couldn’t even secure a single victory in the AFCON in Cameroon and Ivory Coast,” he concluded.
