Ghanaian football icon, Malik Jabir, has raised concerns over the current state of football in his homeland, emphasizing the urgent need for a revival of youth football to bolster the national team’s strength.
Criticism has mounted regarding the state of football in Ghana, with a significant number of individuals coming together to voice their dissatisfaction under the banner of ‘Save Ghana Football.’
On February 14, 2024, a protest aimed at advocating for reforms to rejuvenate Ghanaian football took place, culminating in the submission of a 15-point petition to the country’s lawmakers outlining suggestions to rescue the sport.
Joining the chorus of voices, Jabir, a former coach of the Ghanaian national team, acknowledged the worrisome state of football in the country. He stressed that reviving youth football is paramount to reversing the current decline and ultimately strengthening the Black Stars.
Speaking to Akoma FM, based in Kumasi, Jabir lamented Ghana’s recent struggles, highlighting the failure to secure victories against African opponents on three consecutive occasions.
He emphasized the necessity of following the examples set by countries like Senegal and Mali by revitalizing youth football structures.
“Ghana has failed to defeat an African team three times in a row, and people expect us to chant praises? That is not correct,” the former Asante Kotoko coach said.
Jabir emphasized the importance of rebuilding teams at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels and ensuring a seamless transition for emerging talents, all of which are essential steps toward establishing a robust foundation for the Black Stars.
“We need to return to youth football, rebuild the U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams, and ensure a proper transition for them, as Senegal and Mali have done.
“This will result in a standardized team for the Black Stars. We shouldn’t be telling ourselves that football isn’t dead when we could not even win a single game in the AFCON at Cameroon and Ivory Coast,” he added.
