'You have to move on' – Michael Essien reflects on Ghana's AFCON 2025 disappointment

Former Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has described the Black Stars' failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as a major setback, while urging the team to quickly move on and focus on the future.

Ghana endured a disastrous qualifying campaign, finishing bottom of their group without a single win. The Black Stars recorded three draws and three defeats, missing out on the tournament for the first time in over two decades.

Reflecting on the disappointment, Essien admitted the pain of the outcome but stressed the importance of resilience.

"Of course it was a big disappointment, but in football, you have to move on from that," he told FIFA.com.

"The good thing in football is you always have the next game to make things right."

Despite that setback, the Black Stars have since bounced back by securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Ghana will be making their fifth appearance at the global tournament and have been drawn in a challenging Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.

The Black Stars will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England on June 23 in Boston and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

For Essien, the focus now must be on the World Cup, not the past.