Ghana national football team

Ghana
Nickname(s) Black Stars
Association Ghana Football Association (GFA)
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Head coach Avram Grant
Captain Asamoah Gyan
Most caps Asamoah Gyan (95)
Top scorer Asamoah Gyan (48)
FIFA code GHA
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 30 Decrease 5 (5 November 2015)
Highest 14 (February, April, May 2008)
Lowest 89 (June 2004)
Elo ranking
Current 29 (31 March 2015)
Highest 13 (30 June 1966)
Lowest 97 (14 June 2004)
First international
 Gold Coast and British Togoland 1–0 Nigeria 
(Accra, British Gold Coast; 28 May 1950)
Biggest win
 Nyasaland 0–12 Ghana 
(Nyasaland ; 12 October 1962)[1]
Biggest defeat
 Bulgaria 10-0 Ghana 
(Leon, Mexico; 14 october 1968)[2]
World Cup
Appearances 3 (First in 2006)
Best result Quarter-finals, 2010
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 20 (First in 1963)
Best result Champions, 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982

The Ghana national football team (Akan: Gaana adehyeman nan-bɔɔl tiim) represents Ghana in international association football and has done so since the 1950s. The team is nicknamed the Black Stars (Akan: Nsoroma Tuntum) after the Black Star of Africa in the Flag of Ghana. It is administered by the Ghana Football Association, the governing body for football in Ghana and the oldest football association in Africa (founded in 1920). Prior to 1957, the team played as the Gold Coast.

Although the team did not qualify for the senior FIFA World Cup until 2006 where they qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time, they had qualified for five straight Olympic Games Football Tournaments when the tournament was still a full senior national team competition. The team has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times[3] (in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982) and has been runner-up 5 times (in 1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, and 2015). After going through 2005 unbeaten, the Ghana national football team won the FIFA Best Mover of the Year Award and reached the second round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, they became only the third African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, and in 2014 they competed in their third consecutive World Cup.

History

Chronicles and rebirth

Black Stars (Ghana national football team) members in the 1960s pose with some of Ghana's successive international football trophies won.

The Gold Coast Football Association was founded in 1920 then succeeded by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in 1957, and was affiliated to Confederation of African Football and FIFA the following year.

On 19 August 1962 at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Black Stars played Spanish giants Real Madrid, who were at the time Spanish champions, former European champions and intercontinental champions, and drew 3–3.[4]

Charles Kumi Gyamfi became coach in 1961, and the Black Stars won successive African Cup of Nations titles, in 1963 and 1965, and achieved their record win, 13–2 away to Kenya, shortly after the second of these. They also reached the final of the tournament in 1968 and 1970, losing 1–0 on each occasion, to DR Congo and Sudan respectively. Their domination of this tournament earned the Black Stars team the nicknames of "the Black Stars of West Africa" and "the Black Stars of Africa" in the 1960s.[5] The team had no success in FIFA World Cup qualification during this era, and failed to qualify for three successive African Cup of Nations in the 1970s, but qualified for the Olympic Games football tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals in 1964 and withdrawing on political grounds in 1976 later winning the 1982 African cup of nations. After three failures to reach the tournament final, the 1992 African Cup of Nations saw the Black Stars finish second.

Continuum

Black Stars Continuum

Prior to the year 2000, disharmony among the squad which eventually led to parliamentary and executive intervention to settle issues between two squad members, Abedi Pele and Anthony Yeboah in the late 1990s, may have played some part in the failure of the team to build on the successes of the national underage teams in the late 1990s, but a new generation of Black Stars players who went to the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship final became the core of the team at the 2002 African Cup of Nations, and were undefeated for a year in 2005 and reached the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the first time the team had reached the global stage of the tournament. The Black Stars started by succumbing to a 2–0 defeat to eventual champions Italy, but wins over the Czech Republic (2–0) and the United States (2–1) saw them through to the second round, where they lost 3–0 to Brazil.[6]

Black Stars squad line-up prior to match

In 2008, Ghana reached a high ranking of 14 according to the FIFA World Rankings. The Black Stars went on to secure a 100 percent record in their qualification campaign, winning the group and becoming the first African team to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the final tournament, the team competed in Group D with Germany, Serbia and Australia. Ghana reached the round of 16 where they played the United States, winning 2–1 in extra time to become the third African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. The team then lost to Uruguay in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, having missed a penalty kick in extra time after a certain goal was prevented by Luis Suárez's deliberate handball, who was then shown a red card for his actions.[7]

In 2013 Ghana became the only team in Africa to reach four consecutive semi-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations twice, from 1963 and 1970 and from 2008 and 2013.[8]

Ghana was sufficiently highly ranked by FIFA to start their qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in the Second round. They won the group, and in the following round qualified for the 2014 World Cup finals in November 2013, beating Egypt 7–3 on aggregate in a two-legged play-off.[9][9] Ghana was drawn in Group G for the finals, where they faced Germany, Portugal, and the United States.[10] The World cup finals ended up in disappointment as Ghana exited in the group stages with issues of poor planning and payment bonuses being blamed for the poor performance.

Team image

Grounds and training grounds

Kumasi Sports Stadium
Lizzy Sports Complex

There is no home stadium for the Black Stars (Ghana national football team). World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches have been played at the Essipong Stadium and Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, the Len Clay Stadium, Kumasi Sports Stadium and Abrankese Stadium in Kumasi, the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Cape Coast, the Accra Sports Stadium in the Accra and the Tamale Stadium in Tamale. Some smaller, regional stadia (stadiums) were also used in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification qualifying campaigns.

The Black Stars' training facilities and training grounds are located at Agyeman Badu Stadium, Berekum Sports Stadium in Brong-Ahafo, the Tema Sports Stadium in Tema and the multi-functional Lizzy Sports Complex in Legon.[11]

Media coverage

The Ghanaian nationals are 83% are Akan-speakers, and about 21% English-speakers; match schedules of the Black Stars are broadcast both in English as in the case of inter-continental matches and in Akan nationally by Viasat 1; and during the scheduled qualification for World Cup 2014 national broadcaster GTV sub-division of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) broadcast to the Ghana public home qualifiers with away qualifiers broadcast by the satellite television broadcasting corporation Viasat 1, in which the exhibition match against Turkey in August 2013 was televised by Viasat 1 and the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 Inter-Continental Championships are scheduled for public broadcast by the corporations GFA TV, GBC and Viasat 1.[12]

Kit and team crest

Ghana home shirt: 1970s–1980s
Black Stars 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1st and 2nd kits
Manufacturer Period
Adidas 1957–2000
Umbro 2000–2005
Puma 2005–

The black star is present on the Flag of Ghana and national coat of arms in the center of the primordial national crest. Adopted following the independence of Ghana in 1957, the black star has always been included in its kits.[5] The Black Stars' kits were sponsored by Puma SE from 2005, with the deal ending in 2014.[13]

The Black Star kit is used instead of the original gold, green, and red coloured football kit that coordinates with the colours of the Ghana national flag. The Black Stars are sporting an all-white and partly black football kit which was worn from the years 1957 to 1989 and re-worn from 2006 until December 2014.

The Ghana national football team (The Black Stars) introduced the kit colour to coordinate with the national flag of Ghana and was worn from the years 1990 to 2006 designed with the national colours gold with green and red visibly decorated on its kits, as in the team's crest and in general, Pan-African colours. The gold with green and red kit concept and design was also used in the sixties and seventies, and designed with vertical stripes gold-green and red shoulders with introduction of an all black 2nd kit in 2008 aligning the team's symbol of continuity; Black Star and in 2015, Black Stars' gold-red-green coloured kit and all black coloured kit is to be reassigned to the position of 1st and 2nd kits following the induction of a brown with blue and gold coloured Black Stars 3rd kit in 2012.[14][15]

The Ghana national football team (The Black Stars) football kit is ranked as the best conceptual artistic and designed football kit of any other football team.[16]

The current kit man for the Ghanaian Football Association is Andrew Strong.

Organization and finance

The Black Stars are headed by president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi,[17] and vice-president George Afriyie,[18] with Frank Davis as director of football, and Edward Bawa as treasurer.[19] The Ghana Football Association (GFA) signed a CN¥92.2 million ($15 million) deal with Ghanaian state-run oil and gas exploration corporation, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), to sponsor the Black Stars and the renewable contract saw the oil and gas exploration corporation become the global headline sponsor of the Black Stars, with a yearly Black Stars player salary wage bill,[20][21] following the gold mining corporations Ashanti Goldfields Corporation and Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), which had been sponsoring the Black Stars since 2005.[22]

On 28 August 2013, Ghana Football Association (GFA) launched its TV Channel and TV programmed called "GFA TV", thus becoming the first football association on the Africa continent to launch its own TV programme and TV network which has the exclusive rights and television rights to the broadcasting of all the Black Stars' matches.[23] In November 2013, the Black Stars signed a 2013–2015 CN¥30.6 million (US$5 million) and an additional classified multi-million private bank sponsorship deal with 100% wholly owned Ghanaian state-run private banking institution UniBank.[24]

Supporters

The Black Stars maintain an average stadium match attendance of 60,000+ and an average stadium match attendance high of 80,000+ such as in the case of the Black Stars' 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay in which was attended by 84,017 spectators.[25] Ghana's match against England on 29 March 2011 had the largest away following for any association football national team since the re-opening of Wembley Stadium in 2007.[26] The match was watched by 700 million people around the world.[26]

Following the team's appearances at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments they were greeted by several hundred avid fans dancing and singing at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.[27]

Rivalries

Ghana vs. Nigeria in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-Final

The Black Stars' (Ghana national football team) main footballing rivalry is with the Super Eagles (Nigeria national football team). The "Battle of Supremacy on the Gulf of Guinea" is between two of the most successful teams on the African continent.[28] The proximity of the two countries to each other, a dispute between the different association football competitions and a non-sporting dispute between Ghana and Nigeria in which Ghana battles Nigeria in contention for the supremacy of the whole of West Africa zone add to this rivalry.[28]

In books and popular culture

Products including books, documentary films, Azonto dances and songs have been made in the name of the Ghana national football team. These may be intended with commercial motives but are focused on previous and future World Cups or Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

Personnel

Current technical staff

Head Coach Israel Avram Grant
Assistant Coach Ghana Maxwell Konadu
Technical Coordinator Ghana Francis Oti Akenteng
Head ScoutGhana Otto Addo
Head Masseur Ghana Samuel Ankomah
PhysiotherapistsGhana Colonel Ofosu Anim
Ghana Ralph Frank
Head PsychologistGhana Prof. Joseph Mintah
Head DoctorGhana Prof. Dr. Adam Baba
Equipment Manager Ghana Ismail Amidu
Other backroom staff Ghana Anthony Baffoe
England Ozwald Boateng

Last updated: October 2014
Source: Ghana Football Association official website

Former Head coaches

Since 1957 Ghana has had thirty-two different head coaches and three caretakers. C.K. Gyamfi is the most successful of these, leading the Black Stars to three Africa Cup of Nations titles – in 1963, 1965 and 1982 – making Gyamfi the joint most successful coach in the competition's history.[39] Fred Osam Duodu led the Black Stars to their 1978 Africa Cup of Nations title;[40] Ratomir Dujković, Milovan Rajevac, and James Kwesi Appiah, have all led the Black Stars to World Cup qualification.[41][42]

Players

Current squad

Black Stars squad members line-up before an Africa Cup of Nations match.

The following 23 players were selected for the World Cup qualifying games against Comoros.[43]
Match Date:
13 & 17 November 2015
Opposition:
 Comoros
Caps and goals correct as of:
17 November 2015, including the match against Comoros.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Fatau Dauda (1985-04-06) 6 April 1985 25 0 Ghana Ashanti Gold
1GK Brimah Razak (1987-06-22) 22 June 1987 16 0 Spain Córdoba
1GK Richard Ofori (1993-04-24) 24 April 1993 0 0 Ghana All Stars
2DF Harrison Afful (1986-06-24) 24 June 1986 63 0 United States Columbus Crew
2DF Jonathan Mensah (1990-07-13) 13 July 1990 49 1 France Évian
2DF John Boye (1987-04-23) 23 April 1987 48 3 Turkey Sivasspor
2DF Baba Rahman (1994-07-02) 2 July 1994 17 0 England Chelsea
2DF Jeff Schlupp (1992-12-23) 23 December 1992 10 1 England Leicester City
2DF Edwin Gyimah (1991-03-09) 9 March 1991 8 0 South Africa Orlando Pirates
2DF Daniel Amartey (1994-12-01) 1 December 1994 8 0 England Leicester City
2DF Phil Ofosu-Ayeh (1991-09-15) 15 September 1991 1 0 Germany Eintracht Braunschweig
3MF André Ayew (vice-captain) (1989-12-17) 17 December 1989 68 11 Wales Swansea City
3MF Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (1990-12-02) 2 December 1990 66 11 Italy Udinese
3MF Wakaso Mubarak (1990-07-25) 25 July 1990 39 11 Spain Las Palmas
3MF Mohammed Rabiu (1989-12-31) 31 December 1989 31 0 Russia Kuban Krasnodar
3MF Solomon Asante (1990-09-15) 15 September 1990 21 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe
3MF Afriyie Acquah (1992-01-05) 5 January 1992 20 1 Italy Torino
3MF Samuel Tetteh (1996-07-28) 28 July 1996 1 0 Ghana West African Football Academy
4FW Asamoah Gyan (captain) (1985-11-22) 22 November 1985 95 48 China Shanghai SIPG
4FW Jordan Ayew (1991-09-11) 11 September 1991 33 10 England Aston Villa
4FW Majeed Waris (1991-09-19) 19 September 1991 22 4 France Lorient
4FW David Accam (1990-09-28) 28 September 1990 6 1 United States Chicago Fire
4FW Ebenezer Assifuah (1993-07-03) 3 July 1993 0 0 Switzerland Sion

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up in the last 12 months:

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Ernest Sowah (1988-03-31) 31 March 1988 1 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Don Bosco v.  Mauritius, 14 June 2015
GK Stephen Adams (1989-09-28) 28 September 1989 10 0 Ghana Aduana Stars 2015 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Gideon Baah (1991-10-01) 1 October 1991 1 0 United States New York Red Bulls v.  Canada, 13 October 2015
DF Mohamed Awal (1988-05-01) 1 May 1988 5 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Samuel Inkoom (1989-06-01) 1 June 1989 46 0 Turkey Antalyaspor 2015 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Kwabena Adusei (1987-06-03) 3 June 1987 6 2 South Africa Mpumalanga Black Aces 2015 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF Albert Adomah (1987-12-13) 13 December 1987 18 2 England Middlesbrough v.  Canada, 13 October 2015
MF Bernard Mensah (1994-10-17) 17 October 1994 3 1 Spain Getafe v.  Canada, 13 October 2015
MF Alfred Duncan (1993-03-10) 10 March 1993 1 0 Italy Sassuolo v.  Canada, 13 October 2015
MF Kwadwo Poku (1992-02-19) 19 February 1992 1 0 United States New York City FC v.  Canada, 13 October 2015
MF Lloyd Sam (1984-09-27) 27 September 1984 1 0 United States New York Red Bulls v.  Canada, 13 October 2015
MF Christian Atsu (1992-01-10) 10 January 1992 43 9 Spain Malaga v.  Rwanda, 5 September 2015
MF Frank Acheampong (1993-10-16) 16 October 1993 8 1 Belgium Anderlecht v.  Mauritius, 14 June 2015
MF Seidu Salifu (1993-11-30) 30 November 1993 0 0 Tunisia Club Africain v.  Mali, 31 March 2015
MF Enoch Kofi Adu (1990-09-14) 14 September 1990 1 0 Sweden Malmö 2015 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF Ibrahim Moro (1993-11-10) 10 November 1993 0 0 Turkey Adana Demirspor 2015 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
FW Richmond Boakye (1993-01-28) 28 January 1993 10 4 Netherlands Roda v.  Rwanda, 5 September 2015
FW Kwesi Appiah (1990-08-12) 12 August 1990 6 1 England Crystal Palace v.  Mauritius, 14 June 2015
FW Mahatma Otoo (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992 4 0 Norway Sogndal v.  Mali, 31 March 2015
Notes

Youth teams

The football association of Ghana (GFA) administers several national teams at different age levels between 16 and 23 years of age.

Under-23

The under-23 level (or Olympic team) from the 1992 Summer Olympics competes in Olympic football tournaments, Football at the All-Africa Games, CAF U-23 Championship and is restricted to using players aged 23 years and under.[44] The football at the Olympic Games is thus considered as an under-23 World Cup and since the Olympic Games of 1992; the under-23 level has participated in 5 Olympic Games, becoming the first African team to win an Olympic medal when they won bronze in 1992.[44]

Under-20

The under-20 level is considered as the feeder level to the Black Stars senior squad and has competed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup since its inception in the 1970s. The under-20 level captured the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009 after defeating Brazil 4–3 on penalties after the match finished 0–0 in extra time, and becoming the first on the Africa continent to do so. The under-20 level has been champions of the African Youth Championship three times: in 1995, 1999 and 2009, as well as twice runners-up in 2001 and 2013.

Under-17

The under-17 level is the youngest level and players chosen may not be more than 17 years of age. The team represents Ghana in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The under-17 team have twice been FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, in 1991 and 1995. Additionally they finished as runners up on two occasions, 1993 and 1997. The under-17 level has participated in eight of the 15 tournaments of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, debuting in Scotland 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship and dominating the FIFA U-17 World Cup competition in the 1990s, where they reached four consecutive finals.[45] They also twice won the African U-17 Championship.

Competitive records

Black Stars at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record

Ghana has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times – in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982 – equal with Cameroon and bettered only by Egypt. As the first winner of three Nations Cup tournaments, Ghana obtained the right to permanently hold the trophy in 1978.[46] The Black Stars have qualified for the tournament 20 times in total, finishing as runners-up five times, third once, and fourth three times. Thus, Ghana has the most final game appearances at the tournament with nine, essentially making the final in half of its appearances in the tournament. Ghana also holds the record of most consecutive semi-final appearances with five straight between 2008 and 2015.

Africa Cup of Nations Record
Africa Cup of Nations Record GP W >D L GF GA GD
Africa Cup of Nations Finals8950171912170+47
Africa Cup of Nations
Titles: 4
Appearances: 20
Year Position Year Position Year Position
Sudan 1957Did not enterGhana 1978ChampionsBurkina Faso 1998Round 1
Egypt 1959Did not enterNigeria 1980Round 1GhanaNigeria 2000Quarter-finals
Ethiopia 1962Did not qualifyLibya 1982ChampionsMali 2002Quarter-finals
Ghana 1963ChampionsIvory Coast 1984Round 1Tunisia 2004Did not qualify
Tunisia 1965ChampionsEgypt 1986Did not qualifyEgypt 2006Round 1
Ethiopia 1968Second placeMorocco 1988Did not qualifyGhana 2008Third place
Sudan 1970Second placeAlgeria 1990Did not qualifyAngola 2010Second place
Cameroon 1972Did not qualifySenegal 1992Second place*GabonEquatorial Guinea 2012Fourth place
Egypt 1974Did not qualify Tunisia 1994Quarter-finals South Africa 2013 Fourth place
Ethiopia 1976Did not qualify South Africa 1996 Fourth placeEquatorial Guinea 2015Second place*
*Denotes place was determined by penalty kicks.
** Gold background colour indicates that the team won the tournament.
***Red border color indicates the team was a host nation.

African Nations Championship record

Ghana has competed in all three African Nations Championship tournaments held to date, twice finishing as runners-up.

Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA Squad
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast 2009Runner-up2nd 513186 Team
Sudan Sudan 2011 Round 1 14th 3 0 0 3 1 4 Team
South Africa South Africa 2014Runner-up2nd633041Team
Rwanda Rwanda 2016 To be determined
Total 3/3 4th 14 4 6 4 13 11 3

West African Nations Cup and WAFU Nations Cup record

West African Nations Cup [SCSA Zone III] Record

Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA GD
Benin 1982FinalWinner5320148+6
Ivory Coast 1983FinalWinner431072+5
Burkina Faso 1984FinalWinner523095+4
Ghana 1986FinalWinner6510122+10
Liberia 1987FinalWinner5500142+12
Total5 Finals5 Titles2518705619+37
* Gold background colour indicates that the team won the tournament.
**Red border color indicates the team was a host nation.
  • Note: The tournament was not held in 1985.

West African Football Union Nations Cup Record

Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA GD
Nigeria 2010Semi-finalThird place5401113+8
Nigeria 2011Semi-finalFourth place410358−3
Ghana 2013FinalWinner430194+5
Total1 Final1 Title138052515+10

Olympic record

Bernard Aryee former Black Stars Central Midfielder and part of the Bronze Medalist squad at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic football tournament.
Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA
Greece Athens 1896 No association football competition
France Paris 1900 At the 1900 and 1904 Olympics, clubs competed.
United States St. Louis 1904
United Kingdom London 1908 The Gold Coast team did not participate
Sweden Stockholm 1912
Belgium Antwerp 1920
France Paris 1924
Netherlands Amsterdam 1928
United States Los Angeles 1932 No association football competition
Nazi Germany Berlin 1936 The Gold Coast team did not participate
United Kingdom London 1948
Finland Helsinki 1952 Did not participate [a]
Australia Melbourne 1956
Italy Rome 1960 Did not qualify
Japan Tokyo 1964 Quarter-final 7th 4112712
Mexico Mexico 1968 Round 1 12th 302168
Germany Munich 1972 Round 1 16th 3003111
Canada Montreal 1976 Round 1 (Did not participate)
Soviet Union Moscow 1980 Did not qualify
United States Los Angeles 1984
South Korea Seoul 1988
Spain Barcelona 1992 Since 1992 olympic football is competed by U-23 [n]
Total 3/19 24th 10 1 3 6 14 31
a. Note: The Gold Coast national football team established in 1950; country known as Gold Coast then renamed Ghana in 1957, not competing in international competitions and not being part of neither FIFA nor CAF until 1958, and therefore also recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
n. Note: Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992.

World Cup record

The Black Stars have qualified for three FIFA World Cup tournaments; 2006, 2010 and 2014. In 2006, Ghana was the only African side to advance to the second round of the FIFA World Cup in Germany and was the sixth nation in a row from Africa to progress beyond the group stages of the World Cup.[47] The Black Stars had the youngest team in the FIFA World Cup 2006 with an average age of 23 years and 352 days,[47] and were praised for their improving performance.[48][49] FIFA ranked Ghana 13th out of the 32 countries who competed in the tournament.[50]

In the 2010 World Cup, Ghana progressed beyond the group stages of the World Cup in South-Africa, and reached the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by Uruguay. The Black Stars were defeated on penalty shootout after Luis Suárez hand-balled on the goal line deep into extra time, preventing a certain winning goal.[51] Of the 32 countries that participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA ranked Ghana 7th.[52]

After beating Egypt 7–3 on aggregate in November 2013, Ghana qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.[53] They were drawn in Group G with Germany, USA and Portugal.[54] For the first time Ghana fell in the group stage, tying Germany 2–2 and losing to both the United States and Portugal by 2–1.[55]

Black Stars at the World Cup and Black Stars vs. Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match at Soccer City, Johannesburg on 2 July 2010
FIFA World Cup Record
FIFA World Cup Record GP W D L GF GA GD
World Cup Finals9423910−1
World Cup Quals (H)3424827819+59
World Cup Quals (A)3398163742−5
World Cup Total 7637182112471+53
FIFA World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1958 Did not enter
Chile 1962 Did not qualify
England 1966 Withdrew
1970 to 1978 Did not qualify
Spain 1982 Withdrew
1986 to 2002 Did not qualify
Germany 2006 Round of 16 13th 4 2 0 2 4 6
South Africa 2010 Quarter-final 7th 5 2 2 1 5 4
Brazil 2014 Group stage 25th 3 0 1 2 4 6
Russia 2018 To Be Determined
Total Quarter-Final 3/20 12 4 3 5 13 16

Team honours

Last updated 8 February 2015

Continental tournaments

Black Stars as Africa continental champions upon capturing the 1965 Africa Cup of Nations
Winners (4): 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Runners-up (5): 1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, 2015
Runners-up (2): 2nd 2009, 2nd 2014

Continental Subregion

Winners (4): 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959
Runners-up (4): 1951, 1954, 1956, 1958
Winners (3): 1959, 1960, 1963
Winners (5): 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967
Winners (5): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987
Third place (1): 1991
Winner (1): 2013
Third place (1): 2010

Other Tournaments and Cups

Winner: 1962
Winner: 1964
Runners up: 1982
Winner: 1983
Winner: 1984
Runners up: 1986
Third: 1993
Winner: 1994
Runners up: 1999
Third: 2003
Winner: 2007
Winner: 2010

Other Awards

Recent results and fixtures

Black Stars vs. Argentina national football team, at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, in Córdoba, Argentina.
Key
      Win
      Draw
      Loss

2014

2015

2016

Records

Caps and goals updated as of November 17, 2015. Players in bold are still active at international level.

Most Capped Players
# Name Career Caps Goals
1 Asamoah Gyan 2003–present 95 48
2 Richard Kingson 1996-2011 90 1
3 John Paintsil 2001-2013 89 0
4 John Mensah 2001-2012 86 5
5 Sulley Muntari 2002-2014 84 22
6 Kwadwo Asamoah 2009—present 69 4
7 André Ayew2007—present 68 11
8 Stephen Appiah 1998-2010 67 14
9 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu 2008—present 66 11
10 Anthony Annan 2007-2013 65 2

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kenya International matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  2. ↑ "MATCH: 27.03.1996 Ghana – Brazil 2:8". eu-football.info. 27 March 1996. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "African Football: The early years". bbc.co.uk (British Broadcasting Corporation). 16 January 2004. Retrieved 16 January 2004.
  4. ↑ "International Friendlies of Real Madrid CF 1960–1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 "World Cup 2010: Ghana ready to fulfil their destiny". theguardian.com (The Guardian). 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Joshua Ansah (13 April 2013). "Where is Ghana's 2006 World Cup squad – Part 2". goal.com. Goal.com. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Paul Wilson (2 July 2013). "World Cup 2010: Uruguay make Gyan and Ghana pay the penalty". theguardian.com (The Guardian). Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ghana equal Nations Cup record with Cape Verde win". mtnfootball.com (MTN Group). 3 February 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Egypt 2–1 Ghana (Agg 3–7): Zaki and Gedo strike but Black Stars win through". goal.com. Goal.com. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup Final Draw". fifa.com. FIFA. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ghana's senior men's national team prepare for World Cup qualifier". ghanafa.org. 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "GTV Sports+ to telecast live premier league matches". liquidsportsghana.com. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "FA extends Puma deal to 2014". ghanafa.org. Ghana Football Association (GFA). 23 January 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Black Stars 3rd Kit". ghanasoccernet.com. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  15. ↑ "Black Stars To Play State Envoy in Friendly This Afternoon". ghanasoccernet.com. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "Brazil 2014: Ghana's jersey ranked the best". graphic.com.gh. Daily Graphic (GFA). 10 June 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "National team reforms underway – GFA President". ghanafa.org (Ghana Football Association). 3 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Crentsil elected GFA Vice President". ghanafa.org (Ghana Football Association). 25 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Kwesi Nyantakyi clinches top Caf post". thechronicle.com.gh (The Ghanaian Chronicle). Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "GNPC hails Black Stars". myjoyonline.com. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "GNPC hails Black Stars". ghana.gov.gh. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  22. ↑ "Ghana Football Association signs 15-million US dollar sponsorship deal with Oil Company". news.xinhuanet.com (Xinhua News Agency). Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  23. ↑ "Ghana Football Association launches GFA TV". allsports.com.gh. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  24. ↑ Alex Osei-Boateng. "Ghana's national team gets sponsorship". news.xinhuanet.com (Xinhua News Agency). Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  25. ↑ "Ghana 1 – 1 Uruguay (1:1 a.e.t. (1:1, 0:1) 4:2 PSO)". FIFA. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  26. 1 2 K.N.S Mensah (14 March 2012). "Tickets For Ghana And England Maiden International Friendly Sold Out". goal.com (Goal.com). Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  27. ↑ "Ghana gives Black Stars heroes' welcome after World Cup". BBC News. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  28. 1 2 "Rivals herald African awakening (Ghana vs Nigeria)". fifa.com. FIFA. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  29. ↑ Bonna, Okyere (2008). Ghana, The Rediscovered Soccer Might: Watch Out World!. Bloomington, Indiana, United States: AuthorHouse.
  30. ↑ Whelan, Alan (2012). 'The Black Stars of Ghana' by Alan Whelan. Inkstand Press. ISBN 978-09572248-03.
  31. ↑ Koufie, Ben (2013). The Principles of Modern Soccer Coaching. Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana: Sam Woode Limited.
  32. ↑ "Ben Koufie Launches, 'Principles of Modern Soccer Coaching'". xfmnewscenter.com. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  33. ↑ "Kwame Nkrumah's Vision of Africa". BBC World Service. 14 September 2000. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  34. 1 2 "Kwame Nkrumah & Ghana's Black Stars (2010)". footysphere.com. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  35. ↑ "Ghana's Black Stars football team to debut new celebration dance at AFCON 2013". missgo2girl.com. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  36. ↑ "Ghana Striker Asamoah Gyan To Launch Alkayida Dance at Brazil World Cup". ghanasportsonline.com. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Black Stars victory song launched". modernghana.com. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  38. ↑ "Ghana Black Stars (Official Song 2010 World Cup)". jazika.com. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  39. ↑ "C.K. Gyamfi picks CAF award". ghanafa.org. Ghana Football Association (GFA). 2 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  40. ↑ Frreman Yeboah, Thomas (2 December 2013). "Reminiscences! 50 years after Ghana's first ever African Cup of Nations triumph". graphic.com.gh. Daily Graphic. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  41. ↑ "Appiah becomes 41st coach of the Black Stars". ghanafa.org. Ghana Football Association (GFA). 17 April 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  42. ↑ Anaman, Fiifi (17 October 2013). "Kwesi Appiah challenges his former bosses statistically". allsports.com.gh. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  43. ↑ http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/blackstars/201510/11021.php
  44. 1 2 "FIFA.com olympic football tournament" (PDF). Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  45. ↑ "Starlets '91' squad to be immortalized". modernghana.com. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  46. ↑ BBC News (25 September 2001). "Nations Cup trophy revealed". BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  47. 1 2 "Ghana 2–1 USA". BBC. 22 June 2006. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  48. ↑ "Rehhagel: Africa is catching up". fifa.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)).
  49. ↑ "Black Stars Ascend To Glory". fifa.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)).
  50. ↑ "Amazing Black Stars Set Eyes on Brazil 2014". myradiogoldlive.com.
  51. ↑ Fletcher, Paul. "Uruguay 1–1 Ghana (4–2 pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  52. ↑ "Ghana records best World Cup ranking". ghanafa.org (Ghana Football Association (GFA)). 13 July 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  53. ↑ "Ghana qualify, Egypt go down fighting". fifa.com (FIFA). 19 November 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  54. ↑ "Final Draw reveals intriguing groups". fifa.com (FIFA). 6 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  55. ↑ "Ronaldo downs Ghana but Portugal crash out". FIFA.com. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  56. ↑ Jalco Cup 1951–1959. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  57. 1 2 Azikiwe Cup 1961–1967. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  58. ↑ Dr Kwame Nkrumah Gold Cup – West African Soccer Federation championship. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  59. ↑ Uganda Independence Tournament 1962. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  60. ↑ Independence Cup 1964 (Zambia). RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  61. ↑ Merdeka Tournament 1982 (Malaysia). RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  62. ↑ Addis Abeba 25th Anniversary Tournament 1983. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  63. ↑ Burkina Faso Tournoi Amical 1984. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  64. ↑ Samuel K. Doe Cup 1986. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  65. ↑ Black Stars Tournament 1993 (Libreville, Gabon). RSSSF. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  66. ↑ Egypt Tournament 1994. RSSSF. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  67. ↑ Great Artificial River Championship 1999 (Libya). RSSSF. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  68. ↑ LG Cup Four Nations Tournament (Nigeria) 2003. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  69. ↑ Four Nation Tournament (Ghana) 2007. RSSSF. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  70. ↑ Liberian Independence Anniversary Tournament 2010. RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2013.

Titles chronology

Last updated 28 November 2013

Achievements
Preceded by
1962 Ethiopia 		 African Champions
1963 (First title)
1965 (Second title) 		Succeeded by
1968 DR Congo 
Preceded by
1976 Morocco 		 African Champions
1978 (Third title) 		Succeeded by
1980 Nigeria 
Preceded by
1980 Nigeria 		 African Champions
1982 (Fourth title) 		Succeeded by
1984 Cameroon 
Preceded by
Inaugural Champions		 West African Champions
1982 (First title)
1983 (Second title)
1984 (Third title)
1986 (Fourth title)
1987 (Fifth title) 		Succeeded by
WAFU Nations Cup
Preceded by
2011 Togo 		 WAFU Nations Cup Champions
2013 (First title) 		Succeeded by
Incumbent

External links

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