Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has attributed the Black Stars’ disappointing campaign at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup to age cheating, insisting the long-standing practice of relying on “football age” is undermining the national team’s competitiveness.
Speaking in an interview with Graphic Sports, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said many players in the current squad had become physically rigid and were no longer able to meet the demands of modern international football.
He called for greater honesty regarding players’ ages, stressing that ageing footballers should make way for younger talents capable of driving the national team forward.
According to the former GFA president, Ghana’s football development has fallen below the standards required to compete consistently at the highest level, urging authorities to prioritise long-term planning and grassroots development.
He argued that identifying and nurturing local talent from an early age remains the key to restoring Ghana’s status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe also urged Ghana to emulate Morocco’s football development model, which he said has transformed the North African nation into one of the world’s emerging football forces through sustained investment in youth development and strategic planning.
In addition, he expressed concern over what he described as the disappearance of Ghana’s traditional football identity, calling on the Black Stars’ technical team to restore the aggressive, attacking style that once defined the national side.
His comments come in the wake of Ghana’s elimination from the World Cup following a 1-0 Round of 32 defeat to Colombia.
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