The Ghana National Football Team, or the Black Stars as they are known, is among the most respected sides in African football. Since its inception in 1957, this team has been recognized both locally and globally for its extraordinary talents and commendable performances. They have always been a formidable team on the continent of Africa and beyond it ever since their establishment in 1957. In this article, we will examine why they were a great side back then and how that has changed over time.
From lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy several times to making an impact on the FIFA World Cup stage, the Black Stars have consistently shown their might and love for the beautiful game. This exhaustive review covers irresistible historical facts about Ghana’s national football team, current squad records of players, recent matches played by them, significant milestones, as well as all-time achievements made by Ghana’s national football team.
Key Takeaways
- Ghana’s Black Stars are renowned for their rich footballing history and have produced dazzling talents over the years.
- The current squad is made up of established veterans and rising stars from various top leagues around the world.
- Ghana’s football has had such memorable moments as reaching the quarter-finals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and winning the Africa Cup of Nations four times.
- The team’s future success will be greatly determined by their forthcoming matches, specifically a couple of World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic.
Ghana Football National Team History
For many years now, the Ghana National Football Team has been leading Africa and proudly representing the continent. Arguably one of the best in Africa.
The country instituted an association for football in 1957 and since then has been home to numerous outstanding players who have played for top clubs all over the world. In Ghana’s football history, some names stand out, including Abedi Pele, Michael Essien, and Asamoah Gyan, among others.
Ghana Football National Team Players
The present Ghana National Football Team comprises both experienced players and new recruits who highlight the depth and talent of Ghanaian football. Here are the players of the current squad:
Richard Ofori:
- Club: Orlando Pirates
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Birth Day: November 1, 1993
Lawrence Ati-Zigi:
- Club: St. Gallen
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Birth Day: November 29, 1996
Joe Wollacott:
- Club: Hibernian
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Birth Day: September 8, 1996
Daniel Amartey:
- Club: Beşiktaş
- Position: Midfielder/Defender
- Birth Day: December 21, 1994
Alexander Djiku:
- Club: Fenerbahçe
- Position: Defender
- Birth Day: August 9, 1994
Gideon Mensah:
- Club: Auxerre
- Position: Defender
- Birth Day: July 18, 1998
Nicholas Opoku:
- Club: Amiens
- Position: Defender
- Birth Day: August 11, 1997
Denis Odoi:
- Club: Club Brugge
- Position: Defender
- Birth Day: Not specified
Alidu Seidu:
- Club: Rennes
- Position: Defender
- Birth Day: June 4, 2000
Mohammed Salisu:
- Club: Monaco
- Position: Defender
- Birth Day: April 17, 1999
Kingsley Schindler:
- Club: Samsunspor
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: Not specified
André Ayew (Captain):
- Club: Le Havre
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: December 17, 1989
Mohammed Kudus:
- Club: West Ham United
- Position: Midfielder/Forward
- Birth Day: August 2, 2000
Iddrisu Baba:
- Club: Almería (on loan from Mallorca)
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: January 22, 1996
Osman Bukari:
- Club: Red Star Belgrade
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: December 13, 1998
Salis Abdul Samed:
- Club: Lens FC
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: March 26, 2000
Joseph Paintsil:
- Club: LA Galaxy
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: February 1, 1998
Majeed Ashimeru:
- Club: Anderlecht
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: October 10, 1997
Elisha Owusu:
- Club: Auxerre
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: Not specified
Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer:
- Club: Hamburger SV
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: Not specified
Richmond Lamptey:
- Club: Asante Kotoko
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: March 18, 1997
Jordan Ayew:
- Club: Crystal Palace
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: September 11, 1991
Antoine Semenyo:
- Club: AFC Bournemouth
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: Not specified
Iñaki Williams:
- Club: Athletic Bilbao
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: June 15, 1994
Ernest Nuamah Appiah:
- Club: Lyon (on loan from RWD Molenbeek)
- Position: Midfielder
- Birth Day: November 1, 2003
Jonathan Sowah:
- Club: Medeama SC
- Position: Forward
- Birth Day: January 9, 2000
Ghana Football National Team Matches
Recently, the Ghana National Football Team has played several friendly games in preparation for crucial World Cup Qualifiers. These are its last fixtures as well as what is to come next:
Recent Matches:
- Draw against Namibia (Friendly, January 8, 2024)
- Loss to Cape Verde (Friendly, January 14, 2024)
- Draw against Egypt (Friendly, January 18, 2024)
- Draw against Mozambique (Friendly, January 22, 2024)
- Loss to Nigeria (Friendly, March 22, 2024)
- Draw against Uganda (Friendly, March 26, 2024)
Upcoming Matches:
- Ghana vs Mali (World Cup Qualifiers, June 3, 2024)
- Ghana vs Central African Republic (World Cup Qualifiers, June 10, 2024)
Ghana Football National Team Stats
Ghana’s National Football Team has performed well in both the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Let’s take a look at some interesting stats:
World Cup Stats:
- Total Appearances: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022)
- Best Performance: Quarter-finals in 2010
- Total Matches Played: 15
- Matches Won: 5
- Matches Lost: 9
Africa Cup of Nations Stats:
- Titles: 4 (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
- Runners-up: 5 (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, 2015)
- Total Matches Played: 66
- Matches Won: 37
- Matches Lost: 26
FIFA World Cup Record
In 2006, Ghana started participating in FIFA World Cups, having since taken part in four tournaments. This is how they fared:
2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany:
- Matches Played: 4
- Matches Won: 2
- Matches Lost: 2
2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa:
- Matches Played: 5
- Matches Won: 2
- Matches Lost: 3
2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil:
- Matches Played: 3
- Matches Won: 0
- Matches Lost: 2
2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar:
- Matches Played: 3
- Matches Won: 1
- Matches Lost: 2
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Record
Ghana has a rich history in the Africa Cup of Nations, having won the tournament four times. Let’s delve deeper into their performance in this prestigious competition:
1963 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana:
- Matches Played: 4
- Matches Won: 3
- Matches Lost: 1
1965 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia:
- Matches Played: 4
- Matches Won: 3
- Matches Lost: 1
1968 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia:
- Matches Played: 4
- Matches Won: 2
- Matches Lost: 2
1970 Africa Cup of Nations in Sudan:
- Matches Played: 4
- Matches Won: 2
- Matches Lost: 2
1978 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 5
- Matches Lost: 1
1982 Africa Cup of Nations in Libya:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 4
- Matches Lost: 2
1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 3
- Matches Lost: 2
2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 4
- Matches Lost: 2
2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 3
- Matches Lost: 2
2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 3
- Matches Lost: 2
2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon:
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 3
- Matches Lost: 3
2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt:
- Matches Played: 5
- Matches Won: 2
- Matches Lost: 2
2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon:
- Matches Played: 3
- Matches Won: 0
- Matches Lost: 2
Ghana Football National Team Records
The Ghana National Football Team holds several impressive records, showcasing their dominance in African football:
- Most Appearances: André Ayew (120 caps)
- Youngest Player: Ernest Nuamah Appiah (called up at age 20)
- Top Scorer: Asamoah Gyan (51 goals)
- Best FIFA World Cup Performance: Quarter-finals in 2010
Conclusion
Ghana National Football Team is an indomitable force in African football as well as world football given its rich history, talented players, and notable achievements. The Black Star, a team captained by Andre Ayew and coached by Otto Addo, will strive to reach greater heights in the forthcoming competitions. Ghanaians supporters can be confident of a bright future, with World Cup qualifiers being very essential.
References
- “Ghana National Football Team.” Ghana Football Association. https://www.ghanafa.org/. (accessed April 21, 2024).
- “Abidi Pele.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abedi_Pele. (accessed April 21, 2024).
- “Michael Essien.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Essien. (accessed April 21, 2024).
- “Asamoah Gyan.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asamoah_Gyan. (accessed April 21, 2024).
- “Ghana in 2010 FIFA World Cup.” FIFA. https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/ghana-uruguay-a-thriller-for-the-ages-world-cup-qatar-2022-south-africa-2010. (accessed April 21, 2024).
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