Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has called on the country to abandon its immediate hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following the Black Stars’ disappointing start to the qualifying campaign.

Kingston has delivered a strong assessment of Ghana’s situation, insisting that the team’s current circumstances make qualification an extremely difficult task.

“Let’s forget about trying to qualify for AFCON,” Kingston said, as quoted by 3Sports on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

The former Black Stars winger’s comments come at a difficult moment for Ghana, whose hopes of reaching the next continental tournament have been seriously threatened by consecutive defeats in the opening matches of the qualifiers.

The Black Stars began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering an embarrassing 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. The defeat against The Gambia was particularly painful because Ghana had established a two-goal advantage but failed to protect it.

The results have left Ghana without a point from their opening two matches, putting the four-time African champions under enormous pressure to turn their campaign around.

Kingston’s statement suggests that Ghana must confront the reality of its situation rather than continue to approach the qualification campaign with expectations that may no longer reflect the team’s performances.

His call to forget about qualification is a damning reflection of the disappointment surrounding the Black Stars after their failure to build on their early advantage against The Gambia and their inability to compete effectively against Côte d’Ivoire.

For a national team that has traditionally been regarded as one of Africa’s football powerhouses, the prospect of missing another AFCON tournament would represent a significant setback.

Ghana’s supporters have long expected the Black Stars to compete for continental honours, but recent performances have raised serious questions about the team’s direction, consistency and ability to deliver results when it matters most.

The defeat to The Gambia has intensified those concerns, particularly because the Black Stars appeared to be in control before allowing their opponents to take charge of the contest.

Conceding four goals after taking a two-goal lead exposed significant weaknesses in Ghana’s defensive organisation and ability to manage a match under pressure. The result also highlighted the need for greater concentration and composure throughout the full 90 minutes.

Kingston’s remarks are likely to fuel further debate about the technical team, player performances and the broader management of the national side. With qualification points already lost, Ghana faces the difficult task of recovering from a position that leaves little room for further errors.

The former international’s comments also underline the growing frustration among observers who believe the Black Stars must demonstrate a clear improvement before they can be considered serious contenders for a place at the tournament.

Although Ghana will still have to approach its remaining fixtures with determination, the team must produce a significant turnaround in form to keep its qualification hopes alive.

The Black Stars need to improve their defensive discipline, become more clinical in attack and show the mental strength required to protect leads and respond to setbacks.

The challenge is not simply about winning matches but also about restoring confidence in a team whose recent performances have left supporters questioning whether it can meet the demands of the qualification campaign.

Kingston’s position presents a sobering message for Ghanaian football: the country’s reputation and history cannot guarantee qualification without consistent performances on the pitch.

The Black Stars have won the AFCON title four times, but their recent struggles have raised the possibility of another disappointing campaign if they fail to respond decisively.

For now, Ghana must focus on addressing its weaknesses and preparing for the remaining matches, even as Kingston questions whether qualification should remain the immediate expectation.