We shouldn’t be thinking about winning the AFCON because we don’t have a team – Laryea Kingston

Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has urged the Ghana Football Association to embrace a long term approach to rebuilding the Black Stars, insisting that sustained success can only be achieved through patience, careful planning, and stability rather than quick fixes.

His comments come after Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32. While the Black Stars reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since 2010, the early elimination has sparked widespread discussion about the future direction of the national team.

Kingston believes the time has come for Ghanaian football authorities to move away from short term thinking and instead focus on establishing a structured project that gives both players and coaches the opportunity to develop together over several years.

The former winger argues that building a successful national team is a gradual process that requires consistency, trust, and a clear football philosophy. In his view, changing direction too frequently prevents meaningful progress and makes it difficult for any coach to establish a lasting identity for the Black Stars.

Ghana’s World Cup Campaign Ends in the Knockout Stage

The Black Stars entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup hoping to make a memorable run after successfully qualifying for the expanded tournament.

During the group stage, Ghana produced several encouraging performances that helped the team reach the knockout rounds for the first time in sixteen years.

The Black Stars recorded an important victory over Panama and also earned a disciplined goalless draw against England before narrowly losing to Croatia.

Those results were enough to see Ghana qualify as one of the tournament’s best third placed teams, raising hopes that the team could continue its journey into the later stages of the competition.

However, those hopes came to an end in the Round of 32. Colombia secured a 1-0 victory after Jhon Arias scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute, eliminating the Black Stars from the tournament.

Although the defeat was disappointing, many football figures believe the experience has highlighted valuable lessons that can help shape the team’s future.

Kingston Wants a Different Approach

Speaking on Joy Sports, Laryea Kingston shared his thoughts on what Ghana must do to return to competing consistently with the strongest teams in Africa and the world.

The former Black Stars star believes the solution lies in adopting a long term development strategy instead of making decisions based only on immediate results. According to Kingston, national teams require time to grow.

Players need opportunities to understand each other, coaches need time to implement tactical ideas, and football associations must remain committed to long term objectives even when short term setbacks occur.

He believes Ghana has the talent required to succeed but argues that patience is equally important if that talent is to reach its full potential.

Give Coaches Time to Build

One of Kingston’s strongest recommendations is that Ghana should provide greater stability for whoever leads the national team.

He believes coaches cannot build successful teams if they are constantly working under pressure to deliver immediate results.

“We need a long-term project to build a team. At least five years for a coach to build a team before a tournament,” Kingston said.

His comments reflect a growing belief among many football experts that continuity often produces better long term outcomes than frequent managerial changes.

According to Kingston, a coach who is given sufficient time can gradually introduce tactical ideas, identify suitable players, and build a squad capable of competing consistently at major tournaments. Such an approach would also allow younger players to develop naturally within a stable environment.

Building a Team Takes Time

Kingston emphasized that successful national teams are rarely assembled within a few months. Instead, they are built over several years through careful planning and continuous improvement.

A long term project allows coaches to monitor player development, introduce promising young footballers, and gradually establish a recognizable style of play.

It also creates stronger relationships within the squad as players gain experience playing together in different competitions.

The former winger believes Ghana should aim to create a clear football identity that can be maintained regardless of individual tournaments. Such stability, he argues, increases the likelihood of sustained success rather than occasional achievements.

AFCON Should Be Part of the Rebuilding Process

Kingston also offered an interesting perspective on Ghana’s ambitions for the next Africa Cup of Nations.

Rather than placing immediate pressure on the Black Stars to win the continental title, he believes the tournament should become part of the broader rebuilding process.

“We shouldn’t be thinking about winning the AFCON because we do not have a team,” he added. His remarks suggest that expectations should reflect the current stage of the team’s development.

According to Kingston, attempting to rush success could distract from the more important objective of building a balanced and competitive squad capable of challenging consistently over many years.

He believes the Africa Cup of Nations should provide valuable experience rather than being viewed only through the lens of immediate results.

Developing a Strong Foundation

The former Ghana international believes every successful football nation is built upon strong foundations. Those foundations include player development, coaching stability, tactical consistency, and effective planning.

Without those elements, he argues, it becomes difficult to compete against countries that have invested heavily in long term football development. Kingston’s proposal reflects a philosophy that prioritizes sustainable progress over short lived success.

Rather than focusing only on winning the next tournament, he believes Ghana should concentrate on creating a system capable of producing competitive teams for many years. That process may require patience, but he believes it offers the best opportunity for lasting achievement.