Saddick Adams Defends Black Stars Players, Blames Poor Performance on Administrative Failures

Sports journalist Saddick Adams has strongly refuted claims that the poor performance of the Black Stars national football team is due to a lack of player talent. According to Adams, the team is brimming with gifted players who consistently perform at a high level in some of the world’s most competitive football leagues.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, November 23, 2024, Adams noted that the issue facing the Black Stars is not a lack of talent but rather flaws within the institutional framework governing the team. He pointed out that many of the players in the national squad regularly play in top-tier leagues across Europe, including the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, and other major competitions. However, when these players come together to represent Ghana, they fail to live up to their individual standards.

“You have players who play week in and week out in the topmost leagues in the world,” Adams explained. “And they come here to play and you want to sit back and say are these really the players who were playing in the Premier League last week? Is this the guy who scored in the Spanish La Liga last week?” He added that the real problem lies not in the talent of the players but in an institutional framework that fails to function properly.

His comments come in the wake of the Black Stars' disappointing performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign. The team finished last in Group F with only three points, failing to win a single match. This marked a historic low for the four-time African champions, who had previously been dominant in continental football.

Adams also responded to comments from Black Stars coach Otto Addo, who reportedly suggested that Ghana lacks the necessary talent. He disagreed with this view, particularly in light of the team's qualification group, which included Sudan, Niger, and Angola—countries he believes Ghana should be able to overcome with the talent they have. “I heard coach Otto Addo subscribing to the fact that Ghana doesn’t have talent,” Adams remarked. “You are in a group with Sudan, Niger, and Angola, so not having talent should not be an issue. If we were grouped with Brazil, Spain, or Germany, that would have been a factor.”

Saddick Adams also highlighted the exceptional abilities of Ghanaian players, particularly in the English Premier League. He noted that three of the top dribblers in the league are Ghanaians, which he believes is further evidence of the talent within the squad. His comments underline his belief that the Black Stars have the necessary skill and quality to perform well on the international stage.

However, Adams emphasized that the real cause of the Black Stars’ struggles is not a lack of talent but rather administrative failure and mismanagement within the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the team’s leadership. He stated, “So talent has never been an issue. Our issue is administrative failure and mismanagement.”

Adams’ statements add to the growing debate over what has been blamed for Ghana’s recent struggles in international football. With the Black Stars failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and their performance at an all-time low, many are looking for answers on how to restore the team to its former glory. According to Adams, addressing the institutional issues within Ghana football is the first step toward ensuring the national team returns to winning ways.

The national team's future now hinges on a thorough review of the management systems in place, with an urgent need to address the organizational shortcomings identified by experts like Adams. As the Black Stars continue to face pressure ahead of future international competitions, the need for efficient administration and better governance in Ghanaian football has never been more critical.