Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has urged football authorities to prioritise grassroots development, insisting it is the only way Ghana can restore its status among Africa’s football elite.His remarks come after the Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in disappointment with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.Speaking to Graphic Sports, the veteran football administrator expressed concern over the current state of football development in Ghana, arguing that the country has fallen behind because of inadequate long-term planning and investment in young players.Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said Ghana must adopt a structured approach to talent identification and development if it hopes to compete consistently at the highest level.”If we want to achieve anything in football, we must plan and organise from the grassroots. We must identify and develop more local talent,” he said.The Hearts of Oak board member pointed to Morocco as a model Ghana should emulate, praising the North African nation’s commitment to youth development, which has helped transform it into one of the world’s emerging football powers.According to him, Morocco’s recent achievements are the result of years of strategic planning, with talented players identified early and nurtured through a well-organised development system.”We must adopt the Moroccan strategy,” he said, adding that many of the teams thriving at the World Cup have youthful squads built through deliberate long-term planning.Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe also lamented what he described as the disappearance of Ghana’s traditional football identity, calling on the Black Stars’ technical team to restore the aggressive and entertaining style that once defined the national team.]”Our style of football has disappeared, and it must be brought back. We must be aggressive,” he stated.Although the Black Stars reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 2010, their campaign ended at the Round of 32 following the narrow defeat to Colombia.The four-time African champions will now turn their attention to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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