The Iustum Center for Democracy and Governance (ICEDEG Africa) has called for Ghana to adopt the football development models of Morocco and Senegal to revive the country’s declining football fortunes.
In a statement, the Centre said the recent performances of the Black Stars and other national teams, coupled with the poor showing of Ghanaian clubs in continental competitions, reflect a weakening football identity and deep-rooted structural challenges within the country’s football ecosystem.
According to ICEDEG Africa, Ghana’s greatest football successes were achieved through a strong domestic player development system, with players progressing from Colts football and the local league into the national team, as demonstrated by the Black Stars squads that performed wonderfully in the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and 2010.
The Centre, however, noted that the Black Stars has become increasingly reliant on players developed abroad, weakening the link between the Black Stars and Ghana’s domestic football structures.
Morocco and Senegal Blueprint
ICEDEG Africa cited Morocco and Senegal as examples of countries that have transformed their football through sustained investment in grassroots development, youth academies, coaching, and clear player development pathways.
It noted that Morocco undertook sweeping reforms after years of underperformance, including the establishment of a €13 million national football academy, investment in youth football, coaching development, sports medicine, and structured pathways from grassroots football to the national teams.
Similarly, Senegal’s success has been driven by strong grassroots participation, elite academies such as Generation Foot, Diambars, and Dakar Sacré-Cœur, and strategic partnerships that combine football development with education and professional opportunities.
Recommendations
The Centre argued that rebuilding Ghana’s football requires revitalising Colts football, strengthening and regulating football academies, prioritising locally developed players in national team selection, and leveraging national team participation to stimulate investment in domestic football.
According to ICEDEG Africa, adopting a locally driven football development model would not only improve the competitiveness of the Black Stars but also generate broader economic, tourism and social benefits while restoring Ghana’s long-term football identity and international competitiveness.
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