Ex-Ghana defender Daniel Opare expresses disappointment over inadequate facilities.

Former Black Stars defender Daniel Opare has delivered a stark critique of Ghana's sports infrastructure, cautioning that the nation’s inadequate facilities are detrimental to the growth of future football talents. While appearing on TV3's Mundial live, the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup champion expressed his profound disappointment regarding the current landscape of youth football development and the country's preparedness to host significant tournaments like the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. "When it comes to these matters [hosting tournaments], we must make substantial investments to enhance our facilities. To be frank, our infrastructure is lacking. I won't pretend otherwise simply because I'm Ghanaian. Our facilities are inadequate. The teams do not have proper amenities. It feels like we are not taking football seriously. And this negligence is harming the younger generations because that is where we all came from," Opare stated. Having gained recognition during Ghana's remarkable youth achievements, Opare stressed that the grassroots level is being significantly overlooked. He asserted that without quality pitches, modern training equipment, and proper academy frameworks, young athletes are stripped of the foundation that enabled stars from his era to make their mark on the global scene. For Opare, the aspiration to host continental events must be supported by substantial, concrete investments rather than mere aspirations. His candid evaluation highlights a larger systemic challenge afflicting Ghanaian football, where enthusiasm alone cannot sustain the sport if the country aims to rejuvenate its youth football standing and consistently compete on the international front. "We are not taking football seriously," he concluded.