Ghana 2-4 Gambia: Black Stars set negative record dating back half a century

After their 2-4 home defeat to Gambia, Ghana are living through a historic nightmare

Africa 30 September 2026 at 12:22

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Ghana 2-4 Gambia: Black Stars set negative record dating back half a century

29.09.26 FT AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Ghana

Gambia

Ghana suffered a historic home defeat to Gambia, seriously jeopardising their chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. It is another setback for the Black Stars under Carlos Queiroz.

After 51 years, Ghana return to the bottom

For 51 years, Ghana had never lost an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier by three or more goals. Then it happened on Tuesday. To find a similar collapse, one has to go back to April 1975.

🇬🇭 A new low for the Black Stars under Carlos Queiroz after their 4-2 home defeat to Gambia.

For 51 years, Ghana never lost an AFCON qualifier by three or more goals. Then Tuesday happened. 😞 #SportyFM pic.twitter.com/gfpukX3KT8
— SportyFM Ghana (@SportyFM_) September 30, 2026

According to SportyFM, the last such occasion came during the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, when the Black Stars lost 1-3 to the Mali Eagles in Bamako. At the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, Carlos Queiroz's side, who were without several key players, collapsed against Gambia's Scorpions (2-4).

A disastrous start to the qualifiers

Before that, Ghana had already fallen 0-2 to Côte d’Ivoire in the opening round in Bouaké. These two defeats leave Ghana bottom of Group C and have already made their path to qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations considerably more difficult.

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