Ghana: two successive World Cups but three missed AFCONs, the Black Stars’ paradox

Qualified for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, Ghana are going through a much more difficult period on the continent. After two consecutive group-stage eliminations at the AFCON and an absence from the 2025 edition, the Black Stars began their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with two defeats.

Ghana continue to succeed where their recent results in Africa appeared to be distancing them from the major competitions. The Black Stars secured their place at the 2022 World Cup by eliminating Nigeria in the playoffs, before qualifying for the 2026 World Cup once again. On the African stage, the trajectory has been completely different.

At the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, Ghana did not win a single match and finished bottom of their group with just one point. The Black Stars were eliminated in the group stage, their first such early exit since 2006.

Two years later, the scenario was repeated. Drawn in Group B at the 2023 AFCON, Ghana drew with Egypt and Mozambique after losing to Cape Verde. With just two points, they finished third and once again exited the competition in the first round.

The decline continued during the qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON. Ghana did not win any of their six matches in Group F and finished bottom with just three points. This campaign kept the Black Stars out of the competition for the first time since 2004.

Two World Cups, a different reality

The contrast is particularly clear when comparing Ghana’s campaigns in the World Cup qualifiers with those in the AFCON qualifiers.

In March 2022, the Black Stars secured their qualification for Qatar by holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Abuja, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg. Four years later, they once again secured their place at the 2026 World Cup.

This time, Ghana did not merely take part. The Black Stars reached the knockout stage, their first appearance in that phase since 2010. Their run ended in the following round against Colombia, who won 1-0 in Kansas City.

The contrast with AFCON 2025 is therefore stark: while Ghana were absent from the continental competition, they reached the knockout stage of the World Cup a few months later.

AFCON 2027 gets off to another poor start

The change of competition did not allow the Black Stars to immediately reverse the trend. In the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, Ghana were placed in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Somalia. The first two matchdays turned into a nightmare.

On September 24, the Ghanaians lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké. Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring before Franck Kessié doubled the lead from the penalty spot.

Five days later, Ghana suffered another disappointment at home. The Black Stars led Gambia 2-0 through goals from Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan, but ultimately lost 4-2 after conceding four goals.

The record after two matchdays is therefore unequivocal: two matches, two defeats, zero points and six goals conceded.

Queiroz already leaves his post

This poor start has already led to a major change. Carlos Queiroz and the Ghanaian Football Association announced on October 1 that they had mutually agreed to end their partnership, only a few weeks after the Portuguese coach’s contract had been renewed.

Queiroz had been retained in early September after guiding Ghana to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. His new spell was notably supposed to cover the start of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

He ultimately leaves his post after the first two matchdays of this continental campaign. The Ghanaian Football Association must now find a new head coach, with the Black Stars already six points behind Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia, who occupy the top two places in the group after two matchdays.

The contrast between the two campaigns therefore remains clear: Ghana have managed to qualify for two successive World Cups and reach the knockout stage in 2026, but missed AFCON 2025 after two group-stage eliminations in the previous editions.

To return to the continental competition in 2027, the Black Stars will now have to turn their situation around during the final four matchdays, with a new coach at the helm.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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