Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations

Ghana is one of Africa's major forces in the Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana made its debut in 1963, and quickly emerged as a powerful team in the tournament and went on to win the tournament again in 1965, 1978 and in 1982, which was the last tournament to date Ghana has won.[1][2][3]

Africa Cup of Nations[edit]

The Black stars of Ghana has won the Africa Cup of Nations 4 times – in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982 – bettered by Cameroon and Egypt. As the first winner of 3 AFCON tournaments, Ghana obtained the right to permanently hold the trophy in 1978.[4]

AFCON 2015 match with Guinea
Final
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Not affiliated to CAF
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962 Did not qualify
Ghana 1963 Champions 1st 3 2 1 0 6 1
Tunisia 1965 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 12 5
Ethiopia 1968 Second place 2nd 5 3 1 1 11 8
Sudan 1970 Second place 2nd 5 2 2 1 6 4
Cameroon 1972 Did not qualify
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976
Ghana 1978 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 9 2
Nigeria 1980 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 1 1
Libya 1982 Champions 1st 5 2 3 0 7 5
Ivory Coast 1984 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 2 4
Egypt 1986 Did not qualify
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992 Runners-up 2nd 5 4 1 0 6 2
Tunisia 1994 Quarter-finals 5th 3 2 0 1 3 2
South Africa 1996 4th place 4th 6 4 0 2 7 5
Burkina Faso 1998 Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 3 3
Ghana Nigeria 2000 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 3 4
Mali 2002 Quarter-finals 7th 4 1 2 1 2 2
Tunisia 2004 Did not qualify
Egypt 2006 Group stage 10th 3 1 0 2 2 3
Ghana 2008 Third place 3rd 6 5 0 1 11 5
Angola 2010 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 0 2 4 4
GabonEquatorial Guinea 2012 4th place 4th 6 3 1 2 6 5
South Africa 2013 4th place 4th 6 3 2 1 10 6
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Runners-up 2nd 6 4 1 1 10 3
Gabon 2017 4th place 4th 6 3 0 3 4 5
Egypt 2019 Round of 16 12th 4 1 3 0 5 3
Cameroon 2021 Group stage 19th 3 0 1 2 3 5
Ivory Coast 2023 3 0 2 1 5 6
Morocco 2025
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027
Total 102 54 21 27 133 87
*Denotes place was determined via penalty shoot-out.

Participation history[edit]

Ghana at the 1963 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 3
 Ethiopia 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 2
 Tunisia 2 0 1 1 3 5 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 1–1 Tunisia
Mfum 9' Jedidi 36'
Ghana 2–0 Ethiopia
Acquah
Ethiopia 4–2 Tunisia
Worku
Tekle
Tesfaye 		Chetali 15'
Jedidi 67'
Final
Main article: 1963 African Cup of Nations final
Ghana 3–0 Sudan
Aggrey-Fynn 62' (pen.)
Acquah 72', 82'

Ghana at the 1965 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 2 2 0 0 9 3 +6 4
 Ivory Coast 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 2
 Congo-Léopoldville 2 0 0 2 2 8 −6 0
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 5–2 Congo-Léopoldville
Kofi 13'
Acheampong 18', 59'
Attuquayefio 84', 89'		 Kalala Mukendi 43', 45' (pen.)
Ivory Coast 3–0 Congo-Léopoldville
Manglé 14', 59', 80'
Ghana 4–1 Ivory Coast
Acheampong 20'
Nti 43'
Lutterodt 52'
Kofi 70'		 Bléziri 66'
Final
Main article: 1965 African Cup of Nations final
Ghana 3–2 (a.e.t.) Tunisia
Odoi 37', 96'
Kofi 79'		 Chetali 47'
Chaïbi 67'
Attendance: 16,000

Ghana at the 1968 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 3 2 1 0 7 4 +3 5
 Congo-Kinshasa 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 4
 Senegal 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 3
 Congo-Brazzaville 3 0 0 3 2 8 −6 0
Source: [5] [6]
Ghana 2–2 Senegal
Kofi 63'
Mfum 87'		 Diongue 10'
Diop 65'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: El-Attar (Egypt)
Congo-Kinshasa 3–0 Congo-Brazzaville
Muwawa 19'
Kabamba 27' (pen.), 51'
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Khelifi (Algeria)
Senegal 2–1 Congo-Brazzaville
Diop 27'
Diouck 86'		 Foutika 31'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Rajab (Uganda)
Ghana 2–1 Congo-Kinshasa
Kofi 17' (pen.)
Mfum 84'		 Mokili 42'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Boua (Ivory Coast)
Congo-Kinshasa 2–1 Senegal
Kidumu
Tshimanga (pen.)		 Diouck
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Tarekegn (Ethiopia)
Ghana 3–1 Congo-Brazzaville
Kofi
Mfum 		M'Bono
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Awanda (Kenya)
Semi-final
Ghana 4–3 Ivory Coast
Mfum
Sunday
Odoi 		Report Pokou
Konan (pen.)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: El Attar (Egypt)
Final
Main article: 1968 African Cup of Nations Final
Congo-Kinshasa 1–0 Ghana
Kalala Mukendi 66'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: El-Attar (Egypt)

Ghana at the 1970 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 United Arab Rep. 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 5
 Ghana 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 4
 Guinea 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 2
 Congo-Kinshasa 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 2–0 Congo-Kinshasa
Owusu 29', 32'
Attendance: 7,525
Referee: Obeid (Sudan)
United Arab Rep. 4–1 Guinea
Abo Greisha 5', 10'
El-Shazly 73' (pen.)
Basry 66'		 Soumah 25' (pen.)
Attendance: 7,525
Referee: Gebreyesus (Ethiopia)
Congo-Kinshasa 2–2 Guinea
Kalonzo 70'
Mungamuni 72'		 Petit Sory 5'
Soumah 55' (pen.)
Attendance: 3,342
Referee: Koudou (Ivory Coast)
United Arab Rep. 1–1 Ghana
Bazooka 70' Sunday 60'
Attendance: 3,342
Referee: Kandem (Cameroon)
Guinea 1–1 Ghana
Thiam 10' Owusu 50'
Attendance: 3,927
Referee: Khelifi (Algeria)
United Arab Rep. 1–0 Congo-Kinshasa
Abo Greisha 71'
Attendance: 3,927
Referee: Simfukwe (Zimbabwe)
Semifinal
Ivory Coast 1–2 (a.e.t.) Ghana
Losseni 78' Sunday 21'
Jabir 100'
Attendance: 12,350
Final
Main article: 1970 African Cup of Nations Final
Sudan 1–0 Ghana
Hasabu El-Sagheer 12'
Attendance: 12,187

Ghana at the 1978 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 5
 Nigeria 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 4
 Zambia 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 3
 Upper Volta 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 0
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 2–1 Zambia
Afriyie 21'
Abdul Razak 55'		 Report Kapita 8'
Attendance: 50,000
Nigeria 4–2 Upper Volta
Chukwu 17'
Amiesimaka 31'
Odegbami 44', 82'		 Report Hien 50'
Koïta 52'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: ... Sylla
Zambia 2–0 Upper Volta
P. Phiri 20'
B. Phiri 88'		 Report
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: C. Monty
Nigeria 1–1 Ghana
Odegbami 33' Report Klutse 76'
Attendance: 60,000
Zambia 0–0 Nigeria
Report
Attendance: 25,000
Ghana 3–0 Upper Volta
Alhassan 3', 59'
Polo 52'		 Report
Attendance: 25,000
Semi-final
Ghana 1–0 Tunisia
Abdul Razak 57' Report
Attendance: 10,000
Final
Main article: 1978 African Cup of Nations Final
Ghana 2–0 Uganda
Afriyie 38', 64' Report
Attendance: 40,000

Ghana at the 1980 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Algeria 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 5
 Morocco 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 3
 Ghana 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 3
 Guinea 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 0–0 Algeria
Report
Attendance: 40,000
Morocco 1–1 Guinea
Mustapha 7' Report M. Camara 8'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Paul Preira (Senegal)
Algeria 1–0 Morocco
Belloumi 90+3' Report
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Ali Dridi (Tunisia)
Ghana 1–0 Guinea
Klutse 69' Report
Attendance: 20,000
Algeria 3–2 Guinea
Bensaoula 12', 49'
Belloumi 37'		 Report Diawara 82'
Bangoura 90+1'
Attendance: 20,000
Morocco 1–0 Ghana
Labied 44' Report
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Dodou N'Jie (Gambia)

Ghana at the 1982 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Libya 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 4
 Ghana 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 4
 Cameroon 3 0 3 0 1 1 0 3
 Tunisia 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: [citation needed]
Libya 2–2 Ghana
Jaranah 58'
Al-Issawi 76'		 Report Alhassan 28'
Opoku Nti 89'
Attendance: 45,200
Cameroon 1–1 Tunisia
M'Bida 61' Report Gabsi 60'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Bakary Sarr (Senegal)
Cameroon 0–0 Ghana
Report
Attendance: 40,000
Libya 2–0 Tunisia
Seddik 42' (o.g.)
Al-Bor'osi 89'		 Report
Attendance: 40,000
Ghana 1–0 Tunisia
John Ebow Essien 28' Report
Attendance: 40,000
Libya 0–0 Cameroon
Report
Attendance: 40,000
Semifinal
Ghana 3–2 (a.e.t.) Algeria
Alhassan 4', 103'
Opoku Nti 90'		 Report Zidane 29'
Assad 62'
Attendance: 5,000
Final
Main article: 1982 African Cup of Nations Final
Ghana 1–1 Libya
Alhassan 35' Report Al-Beshari 70'
Penalties
Lamptey soccer ball with check mark
Alhassan soccer ball with check mark
Paha soccer ball with check mark
Asaase soccer ball with check mark
Abbrey soccer ball with check mark
Mensah soccer ball with red X
Quarshie soccer ball with check mark
Afriyie soccer ball with check mark		 7–6 soccer ball with check mark Al-Beshari
soccer ball with check mark Sola
soccer ball with check mark Al-Ajeli
soccer ball with check mark Ben-Suleiman
soccer ball with check mark Al-Farjani
soccer ball with red X Ghonaïm
soccer ball with check mark Jaranah
soccer ball with red X Zeiyu
Attendance: 50,000

Ghana at the 1984 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Algeria 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5 5
 Nigeria 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 4
 Ghana 3 1 0 2 2 4 −2 2
 Malawi 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4 1
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 1–2 Nigeria
Opoku N'ti 19' Report Nwosu 13'
Ehilegbu 31'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Dodou N'Jie (Gambia)
Algeria 3–0 Malawi
Bouiche 29'
Belloumi 36'
Fergani 38'		 Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Bakary Sarr (Senegal)
Malawi 2–2 Nigeria
Waya 7' (pen.)
Msiya 35'		 Report Temile 39', 41'
Attendance: 15,000
Algeria 2–0 Ghana
Menad 75'
Bensaoula 85'		 Report
Attendance: 15,000
Algeria 0–0 Nigeria
Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Karim Camara (Guinea)
Ghana 1–0 Malawi
Amphadu 32' Report
Attendance: 3,000

Ghana at the 1992 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group D
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2 4
 Zambia 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 2
 Egypt 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2 0
Source: [citation needed]
Zambia 1–0 Egypt
Kalusha 61'
Attendance: 5,000
Ghana 1–0 Zambia
Abedi Pele 64'
Attendance: 5,000
Ghana 1–0 Egypt
Yeboah 89'
Attendance: 5,000
Quarter-final
Ghana 2–1 Congo
Yeboah 29'
Abedi Pele 57'		 Tchibota 52'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Ibrahim Faye (Gambia)
Semi-final
Ghana 2–1 Nigeria
Abedi Pele 43'
Prince Polley 54'		 Report Adepoju 11'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Neji Jouini (Tunisia)
Final
Main article: 1992 African Cup of Nations Final
Ivory Coast 0–0 (a.e.t.) Ghana
Report
Penalties
Aka soccer ball with check mark
Hobou soccer ball with check mark
Sekana soccer ball with check mark
M. Traoré soccer ball with check mark
Tiéhi soccer ball with red X
Gadji-Celi soccer ball with check mark
Kouadio soccer ball with check mark
Abouo soccer ball with check mark
Maguy soccer ball with check mark
Sie soccer ball with check mark
Gouamené soccer ball with check mark
Aka soccer ball with check mark		 11–10 soccer ball with check mark Baffoe
soccer ball with check mark Lamptey
soccer ball with check mark Naawu
soccer ball with red X Asare
soccer ball with check mark Yeboah
soccer ball with check mark Manso
soccer ball with check mark Armah
soccer ball with check mark Abroah
soccer ball with check mark Ampeah
soccer ball with check mark Opoku
soccer ball with check mark Ansah
soccer ball with red X Baffoe
Attendance: 47,500

The penalty shootout was significant in that it was the first in the final of a major international tournament that every player on the pitch took a penalty.

Ghana at the 1994 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group D
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2 4
 Senegal 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 2
 Guinea 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 1–0 Guinea
Akunnor 87'
Attendance: 10,000
Senegal 2–1 Guinea
Gueye 46' (pen.)
Tendeng 50'		 A. Camara 44'
Attendance: 6,000
Ghana 1–0 Senegal
Polley 42'
Attendance: 6,000
Quarterfinal
Ghana 1–2 Ivory Coast
Akonnor 77' Tiéhi 30'
A. Traoré 81'
Attendance: 8,000

Ghana at the 1996 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group D
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 9
 Tunisia 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 4
 Ivory Coast 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3 3
 Mozambique 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 2–0 Ivory Coast
Yeboah 20'
Pelé 70'
Attendance: 8,000
Tunisia 1–1 Mozambique
Berkhissa 24' Bucuane 4'
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)
Ghana 2–1 Tunisia
Pelé 50'
Akonnor 77'		 Ben Younes 72'
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Petros Mathabela (South Africa)
Ivory Coast 1–0 Mozambique
Tiéhi 32'
Attendance: 500
Tunisia 3–1 Ivory Coast
Ben Younes 32', 38'
Ben Hassen 48'		 M. Traoré 84'
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Sidi Bekaye Magassa (Mali)
Ghana 2–0 Mozambique
Pelé 42'
Aboagye 68'
Attendance: 3,500
Quarterfinal
Ghana 1–0 Zaire
Yeboah 22' Report
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Sidi Bekaye Magassa (Mali)
Semifinal
South Africa 3–0 Ghana
Moshoeu 22', 87'
Bartlett 46'
Attendance: 75,000
Third place match
Ghana 0–1 Zambia
J. Bwalya 51'
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Ghana at the 1998 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Tunisia 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6
 DR Congo 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
 Ghana 3 1 0 2 3 3 0 3
 Togo 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3
Source: [citation needed]
DR Congo 2–1 Togo
Tondelua 57' (pen.), 73' (pen.) Tchangai 90'
Attendance: 4,000
Ghana 2–0 Tunisia
Nyarko 8'
Gargo 90'
Attendance: 12,000
Tunisia 2–1 DR Congo
Ben Slimane 31'
Tlemcani 76'		 Kimoto 36'
Attendance: 1,000
Togo 2–1 Ghana
Doté 26'
Kader 90'		 Johnson 83' (pen.)
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)
DR Congo 1–0 Ghana
Kisombe 77'
Attendance: 3,000
Tunisia 3–1 Togo
Tlemcani 9'
Ben Slimane 12'
Gabsi 80'		 Assignon 4' (pen.)
Attendance: 800

Ghana at the 2000 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group A

Group A of the 2000 AFCON remains as the only group stage that all four teams to achieve four points out of three matches.

Main article: 2000 Africa Cup of Nations Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Cameroon 3 1 1 1 4 2 +2 4
 Ghana 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
 Ivory Coast 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4
 Togo 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 4
Source: [citation needed]
Ghana 1–1 Cameroon
Ayew 57' Foé 19'
Attendance: 45,000
Ivory Coast 1–1 Togo
Guel 38' (pen.) Ouadja 19'
Attendance: 13,000
Ghana 2–0 Togo
Ayew 28'
Addo 37'
Attendance: 30,000
Cameroon 3–0 Ivory Coast
Kalla 29'
Eto'o 45'
M'Boma 90'
Attendance: 5,000
Ghana 0–2 Ivory Coast
Kalou 45'
Sie 84'
Attendance: 40,000
Cameroon 0–1 Togo
Tchangai 18'
Attendance: 2,000
Quarterfinal
South Africa 1–0 Ghana
Nomvethe 42'
Attendance: 40,000

Ghana at the 2002 African Cup of Nations[edit]

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 South Africa 3 1 2 0 3 1 +2 5
 Ghana 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5
 Morocco 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 4
 Burkina Faso 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
South Africa 0–0 Burkina Faso
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Falla Ndoye (Senegal)
Morocco 0–0 Ghana
Attendance: 4,000
South Africa 0–0 Ghana
Attendance: 5,000
Burkina Faso 1–2 Morocco
Dagano 58' Zerouali 23', 85'
Attendance: 6,000
South Africa 3–1 Morocco
Zuma 42'
Mngomeni 48'
Nomvethe 51'		 Benmahmoud 77' (pen.)