Ghana national football team
Nickname(s) | Black Stars | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Ghana Football Association | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
Head coach | Otto Addo | ||
Captain | André Ayew | ||
Most caps | André Ayew (119) | ||
Top scorer | Asamoah Gyan (51) | ||
Home stadium | Various | ||
FIFA code | GHA | ||
| |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Ghana 0–10 Bulgaria (Mexico; 2 October 1968) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 4 (first in 2006) | ||
Best result | Quarter-finals (2010) | ||
Africa Cup of Nations | |||
Appearances | 23 (first in 1963) | ||
Best result | Champions (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) |
The Ghana national football team represents Ghana in men's international football.[4] The team is named the Black Stars after the Black Star of Africa in the flag of Ghana.[5] It is governed by the Ghana Football Association, the governing body for football in Ghana. Prior to 1957, it played as the Gold Coast.
Ghana qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2006.[6][7] The team has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times (1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982), while finishing as runners-up five times (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, and 2015). They have also qualified for the CHAN four times, finishing as runners-up twice (2009 and 2014).[8]
History
On 19 August 1962 at the
Fortunes changed for the Black Stars however, after they failed to qualify for 3 successive
Tensions among the squad led to the parliamentary and executive to intervene and settle issues between star players Abedi Pele and Tony Yeboah. In the 1990s, this may have played some part in the failure of the team to build on the successes of the national underage teams. However, the 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, going undefeated for a year in 2005 and qualifying for the final tournament of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars started by succumbing to a 2–0 defeat to eventual champions Italy, and wins over Czech Republic (2–0) and United States (2–1). This saw them advance through to the second round, where they lost 3–0 to Brazil.[14]
Under head coach
In 2013, it became the only team in Africa to reach 4 consecutive semi-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations twice, the first time since between 1963 and 1970.[16]
The Black Stars were sufficiently ranked by FIFA to start their qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in the second round. They won their group, and in the following round qualified for the 2014 World Cup finals in November 2013, after beating Egypt 7–3 on aggregate in a 2-legged play-off.[17] They were drawn in Group G for the finals, where they faced Germany, Portugal, and the United States.[18] They exited in the group stages recording 1 draw and 2 losses. However, they were the only team to not lose to Germany in the tournament, and the only team to hold onto a lead against the Germans at any point, drawing 2-2 (and leading 2-1) with the eventual winners.
In the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, they reached the final, to be denied the title on penalties against Ivory Coast. While their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations campaign ended in a 4th place finish - the third one in 4 consecutive editions of the tournament - in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, they finished behind Egypt and Uganda in their final group. At the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, they were eliminated by Tunisia in the Round of 16. In 2021, Manager Rajevac was brought back, but the Black Stars ended up failing to win a match at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations where they lost 2–3 to debutants the Comoros after an André Ayew red card to finish bottom of their group. Thus, they failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2006. They drew 0–0 in a match against Nigeria and drew 1–1 in Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on away goals.[19] During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ghana lost their first match against Portugal (3–2). They earned their first and only victory in their second match against South Korea 3–2 after an insane thriller. In a "must win match to qualify" against Uruguay, the opponent that kicked out Ghana 12 years ago, Ghana instead lost 2–0 and thus finished bottom; however, despite failing to avenge the loss, South Korea's 2–1 win over Portugal ensured Ghana to have a consolation prize by also sending out Uruguay from the competition on the virtue of goals scored.
Culture
Kits and crest
Adopted following the independence of Ghana in 1957, the black star has been included in the Black Stars' kits. The Black Stars' kits were sponsored by
Between 1990 and 2006 the Ghana national team used the kit in the colours of the national flag of Ghana, with gold, green and red used, as in the team's crest and also known as the Pan-African colours. The gold with green and red kit concept and design was used in the 60s and 70s, and designed with gold and green vertical stripes and red shoulders. An all black second kit was introduced in 2008 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.[21][22]
The team's kit for the 2014 FIFA World Cup was ranked as the best kit of the tournament by BuzzFeed.[23]
2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1st and 2nd kits
| ||
Kit supplier | Period |
---|---|
Erima | 1991–1992 |
Adidas | 1992–2000 |
Kappa |
2000–2005 |
Puma | 2005– |
Grounds
The 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.[24]
Organization and finance
The Black Stars had no official head because of "corrupt" practices
On 28 August 2013, Ghana Football Association (GFA) launched a
Supporters
The Black Stars maintain an average stadium match attendance of 60,000+ and a match attendance high of 80,000+, such as in the case of its 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay which was attended by 84,017 spectators.[36] 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.[37] The match was watched by 700 million people around the world.[37]
Following the team's appearances at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments they were greeted by some hundred avid fans dancing and singing at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.[38]
Rivalries
A rivalry is with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria national team. The "Battle of Supremacy on the Gulf of Guinea" is between two of the "most successful teams on the African continent".[39] The proximity of the two countries to each other, a dispute between the different association football competitions and wider diplomatic competition for influence across West Africa add to this rivalry.[39][40] The match between these two countries is called the Jollof derby.[41]
Other rivalries include the rivalry with Egypt and international rivalries with USA as well as Uruguay.
Media and arts
Match schedules are broadcast in English as in the case of inter-continental matches and in Akan nationally by Adom TV, PeaceFM, AdomFM and HappyFM. During the scheduled qualification for the 2014 World Cup national broadcaster GTV, a sub-division of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), broadcast to the Ghanaian public home qualifiers with away qualifiers broadcast by the satellite television broadcasting corporation Viasat 1. The friendly 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.[42]
Products including books, documentary films, Azonto dances and songs have been made in the name of the team. These may be intended with commercial motives and are focused on previous and future World Cups or Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
- Books: books have been published on the team's history and participation in tournaments. These include Ghana, The Rediscovered Soccer Might: Watch Out World!,[43] about the history and performance of the Black Stars and association football national teams that the Black Stars have played against, and The Black Stars of Ghana by Alan Whelan;[44] about Black Stars commencing their progress through the final rounds of the 2010 World Cup and into the quarter-finals.
- Documentary films: In 2010 Miracle Films Ghana Limited showcased a vintage documentary film picture, Kwame Nkrumah & Ghana's Black Stars, about Osagyefo
- Nickname: The shipping industry line incorporated by the founder of the Back-to-Africa movement, civil rights movement leader Marcus Garvey and the organiser of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA) from 1919 to 1922, gives the Ghana team its nicknames, the Black Stars of West Africa and the Black Stars of Africa.[46]
- Dances: upon the Black Stars scoring against opposition teams, dance forms of the Ghanaian Akan: Mmonko)" (shrimp), was established and showcased at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations by the Black Stars players.[47] Black Stars goal celebrations in match victories at the 2014 World Cup and upon scoring against opposition teams, are to establish and showcase Alkayida.[48]
- Songs: On occasions of past Castro The Destroyer', where he features under the alias 'Baby Jet'. The song is entitled "African Girls" and is sung in the Akan language and was launched onto the Ghanaian screens, continental West Africa screens and onto the Sub-Saharan Africa screens. The music video shows the "Asamoah Gyan Dance" goal celebration which he demonstrated at the 2010 World Cup. The song "African Girls" won an award at the Ghana Music Awards in 2011. The 2010 World Cup song, "Ghana Black Stars (Official Song 2010 World Cup)" composed by Ghanaian hiplife music group "Kings and Queens Entertainment" approved by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as GFA has indicated that the Black Stars are a protected brand.[50]
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2023
23 March UTC±0 |
|
Report | Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Referee: Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo) |
27 March 2023 AFCON qualification | Angola | 1–1 | Ghana | Luanda, Angola |
17:00 UTC+1 | Report |
|
Stadium: Estádio 11 de Novembro Referee: Mohamed Maarouf (Egypt) |
18 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Madagascar | 0–0 | Ghana | Antananarivo, Madagascar |
17:00 UTC+3 | Report | Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium Referee: Patrice Milazar (Mauritius) |
7 September UTC±0 |
Report |
|
Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya) |
12 September UTC±0 |
Report |
|
Stadium: Accra Sports Stadium Referee: Kouassi Attiogbe (Togo) |
14 October Friendly | Mexico | 2–0 | Ghana | Charlotte, United States |
21:00 UTC−4 | Report | Stadium: Bank of America Stadium Referee: Joe Dickerson (United States) |
17 October Nashville, United States | ||||
20:30 UTC−4 | Report | Stadium: Geodis Park Referee: Marco Ortiz (Mexico) |
17 November UTC±0 |
|
Report | Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco) |
21 November 2026 World Cup qualification | Comoros | 1–0 | Ghana | Moroni, Comoros |
19:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade de Moroni Attendance: 11,628 Referee: Abdel Aziz Mohamed Bouh (Mauritania) |
2024
8 January UTC±0 |
Report | Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Referee: Charles Bulu (Ghana) |
14 January UTC±0 |
Djiku 56' | Report | Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Attendance: 11,943 Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo) |
18 January UTC±0 |
Report |
|
Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Attendance: 20,808 Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon) |
22 January UTC±0 |
Report | Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya) |
22 March UTC±0 |
Stadium: Stade de Marrakech |
26 March UTC±0 |
Stadium: Stade de Marrakech |
2 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Mali | v | Ghana |
Coaches
- As of 24 January 2024
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | Otto Addo |
Assistant coach | Joseph Laumann |
Assistant coach | John Paintsil |
Assistant coach | Fatau Dauda |
Goalkeeping coach |
History
Since 1957 it has had 32 different head coaches and 3 caretakers. C. K. Gyamfi led the Black Stars to 3 Africa Cup of Nations titles – in 1963, 1965 and 1982 – making Gyamfi the "joint most successful coach" in the competition's history.[51] Fred Osam Duodu led the Black Stars to their 1978 Africa Cup of Nations title;[52] Ratomir Dujković, Milovan Rajevac, and James Kwesi Appiah have led the Black Stars to World Cup qualification.[53][54] 2 Serbian managers guided Ghana to the 2 first World Cup debuts.[55][56][57][58][59][60][61] The team is being headed by Chris Hughton who is the head coach and supported by George Boateng and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani as assistant coaches[62][63][64] of the senior national team, the Black Stars since February 2023.[65][66][67]
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.[68]
Caps and goals correct as of 22 January 2023, after the match against Mozambique.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Richard Ofori | 1 November 1993 | 33 | 0 | Orlando Pirates | |
GK | Lawrence Ati-Zigi | 29 November 1996 | 20 | 0 | St. Gallen | |
GK | Joe Wollacott
|
8 September 1996 | 11 | 0 | Hibernian | |
DF | Daniel Amartey | 21 December 1994 | 55 | 0 | Beşiktaş | |
DF | Alexander Djiku | 9 August 1994 | 27 | 1 | Fenerbahçe | |
DF | Gideon Mensah | 18 July 1998 | 24 | 0 | Auxerre | |
DF | Nicholas Opoku | 11 August 1997 | 18 | 1 | Amiens | |
DF | Denis Odoi | 27 May 1988 | 13 | 0 | Club Brugge | |
DF | Alidu Seidu | 4 June 2000 | 11 | 0 | Rennes
| |
DF | Mohammed Salisu | 17 April 1999 | 10 | 2 | Monaco | |
DF | Kingsley Schindler | 12 July 1993 | 4 | 0 | Samsunspor | |
DF | Abdul Fatawu Hamidu | 4 March 1999 | 1 | 0 | Medeama | |
MF | André Ayew (captain) | 17 December 1989 | 119 | 24 | Le Havre | |
MF | Mohammed Kudus | 2 August 2000 | 32 | 11 | West Ham United
| |
MF | Iddrisu Baba | 22 January 1996 | 28 | 0 | Almería | |
MF | Osman Bukari | 13 December 1998 | 17 | 3 | Red Star Belgrade | |
MF | Salis Abdul Samed | 26 March 2000 | 15 | 0 | Lens | |
MF | Joseph Paintsil | 1 February 1998 | 15 | 0 | LA Galaxy | |
MF | Majeed Ashimeru | 10 October 1997 | 9 | 0 | Anderlecht | |
MF | Elisha Owusu | 7 November 1997 | 8 | 0 | Auxerre | |
MF | Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer | 13 September 2001 | 4 | 0 | Hamburger SV | |
MF | Richmond Lamptey | 18 March 1997 | 1 | 0 | Asante Kotoko | |
FW | Jordan Ayew | 11 September 1991 | 100 | 22 | Crystal Palace | |
FW | Antoine Semenyo | 7 January 2000 | 17 | 2 | Bournemouth | |
FW | Iñaki Williams | 15 June 1994 | 17 | 1 | Athletic Bilbao | |
FW | Ernest Nuamah | 1 November 2003 | 9 | 2 | Lyon | |
FW | Jonathan Sowah | 9 January 2000 | 3 | 0 | Medeama |
Recent call-ups
The following have also been called up in the last twelve months.
Local team
The football association of Ghana (GFA) administers national teams at different levels, including 1 for the local national team. The team is restricted to players who only play in the local league, thus the Ghana Premier League. It is nicknamed Local Black Stars.[69][70][71]
Ghana Supporters Union
The Ghana Supporters Union was established in 2005 during the African Cup of Nations qualifiers and the Blackstars first qualification in Germany. The union was officially formed in 2017 and was facilitated by the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah. Since that time till now the union has been active in supporting the National Team both locally and internationally.[72]
Records
- As of 22 January 2024[73]
- Players in bold are still active with Ghana.
Most appearances
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | André Ayew | 119 | 24 | 2007–present |
2 | Asamoah Gyan | 109 | 51 | 2003–2019 |
3 | Jordan Ayew | 100 | 22 | 2010–present |
4 | Richard Kingson | 93 | 1 | 1996–2011 |
5 | John Paintsil | 91 | 0 | 2001–2013 |
6 | Harrison Afful | 86 | 0 | 2008–2018 |
7 | Sulley Muntari | 84 | 20 | 2002–2014 |
8 | John Mensah | 81 | 3 | 2001–2012 |
9 | Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu | 78 | 11 | 2008–2017 |
10 | Kwadwo Asamoah | 74 | 4 | 2008–2019 |
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Asamoah Gyan | 51 | 109 | 0.47 | 2003–2019 |
2 | Edward Acquah | 45 | 41 | 1.1 | 1956–1964 |
3 | Kwasi Owusu | 36 | 45 | 0.8 | 1968–1976 |
4 | Tony Yeboah | 29 | 59 | 0.49 | 1985–1997 |
5 | Karim Abdul Razak | 25 | 62 | 0.4 | 1975–1988 |
6 | André Ayew | 24 | 119 | 0.2 | 2007–present |
7 | Jordan Ayew | 22 | 100 | 0.22 | 2010–present |
8 | Wilberforce Mfum | 20 | 26 | 0.77 | 1960–1968 |
Sulley Muntari | 20 | 84 | 0.24 | 2002–2014 | |
10 | Osei Kofi | 19 | 25 | 0.76 | 1964–1973 |
Abedi Pele | 19 | 73 | 0.26 | 1982–1998 |
Captains
- Awuley Quaye (1978)
- Kuuku Dadzie (1980–1982)[74]
- Emmanuel Quarshie (1982–1984)
- Isaac Paha (1984)
- James Kwesi Appiah (1984–1992)[75]
- Abedi Pele (1992–1998)[76]
- Charles Akonnor (1999–2001)
- Stephen Appiah (2002–2010)[77]
- John Mensah (2010–2012)[78]
- Asamoah Gyan (2012–2019)[79]
- André Ayew (2019–)[80][81]