Let's keep the coach and team, test them again at next AFCON – Franklin Cudjoe

The Chief Executive Officer of Imani Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has called for the Black Stars coach and players to be retained despite the team's elimination from the ongoing tournament, urging Ghanaians to give them another opportunity at the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In a Facebook post shared on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Cudjoe said the team should be kept together and assessed again at the next continental competition rather than making immediate changes following the disappointing exit.

"Let us keep the coach and the team, and test them again at the next Afcon," he wrote.

Commenting on the team's performance, Cudjoe described the defeat as avoidable, attributing the turning point to the early injury and substitution of Senaya, which he believes paved the way for the decisive goal.

"It was an avoidable loss. Senaya's early injury and substitution signalled trouble, and that resulted in the only goal."

He, however, acknowledged that the Black Stars failed to respond after falling behind and questioned whether the team had genuinely looked capable of making a deep run in the tournament.

Ghana crash out of 2026 World Cup after narrow defeat to Colombia

"Nonetheless, we did not man up as expected. But from the onset of the tournament, did we really believe we had a great team capable of going further than we did?"

Cudjoe also cited a proverb previously used by A.B.A. Fuseini to underscore his view that the team's shortcomings had been evident from the beginning.

"As A.B.A. Fuseini told us: 'The testicle that will degenerate into a hernia is spotted from the first day it is seen.'"

Despite the disappointment, he said Ghana's campaign had at least provided fans with a brief period of excitement, ending his post on a light-hearted note.

"We had a brief moment of fun, but now we are back home. I did not dance (Kakalika moves) in vain, though."

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