Didi Dramani Criticizes African Nations Championship Qualifying Format After Black Galaxies’ Loss
Mas Ud Didi Dramani, head coach of Ghana’s Black Galaxies, has voiced his concerns over the qualification process for the African Nations Championship (CHAN). His comments come in the wake of his team’s defeat to Nigeria’s Super Eagles B, marking the second consecutive time the two West African rivals have clashed during the qualifiers for this tournament, which is exclusively for players based in Africa.
On Saturday, the Black Galaxies suffered a 3-1 loss in Uyo, Nigeria, eliminating them from participating in the CHAN scheduled to take place in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Speaking to reporters, Dramani called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to re-evaluate the current qualification structure. “Having Ghana and Nigeria meet at this stage is problematic. CAF needs to assess the format and design a system that better supports the growth of football on the continent,” he said, according to a report by All Nigeria Soccer.
While advocating for changes in the qualification format, Dramani acknowledged that his team was outperformed on the day. “Nigeria displayed greater hunger and intensity. We made critical errors that proved costly,” he admitted.
Reflecting on the game, he added, “The first goal put us on the back foot, and the second drained our energy and morale due to the manner it was conceded. The third goal only compounded our struggles.”
Dramani’s remarks highlight the challenges facing African football as it seeks to balance competitive fairness with fostering growth and development across the continent.
