Football continues to be the most popular sport in Ghana, not only because of its global appeal but also because it has helped Ghana gain international recognition and forge an identity.
The Ghana national football team has represented the nation for close to 70 years since it was founded in the 1950s. The team is referred to as the Black Stars, and its name comes from “the star” on the Ghanaian flag.
Here, are a few interesting facts about the Ghana national football team
The Black Star-Name inspired by the National Flag
Ghana was the first African country to gain independence from Britain which required the Pan-Africanism spirit to be well represented by a flag. The country adopted a tri-colored flag like Ethiopia but altered with a star.
The same free spirit was adopted by the team when it was rechristened as the Black Stars. Early in the days, Ghana national team also adopted the three colors of the flag on its attire but is currently changed to white.
Coaches
Since 1957 Ghana has had about 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.
Fred Osam Duodu also led the Black Stars to their 1978 Africa Cup of Nations title. Kwesi Appiah became was a coach for the national team in 2012.
Ratomir Dujkovic, Milovan Rajevac, and James Kwesi Appiah have all led the Black Stars to World Cup qualification.
Most Successful African Olympic Football Team
Ghana National Football Team is one of the most successful African Olympic football teams and is known for its Technique style of playing. The team has qualified for the Olympics in five consecutive appearances, the best of which is the third position in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Four times, the Black Stars qualified for the World Cup qualification.
Black Stars remain one of the most competitive African football teams that have qualified for the World Cup in three seasons 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022.
Ghana football team has many accolades to its name that include 14th position in World Cup teams ranking in 2008 and 7th position in FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Four times Africa Cup of Nations champions
Blacks Stars has participated in the African Cup of Nations for 22 seasons and won the titles four times. The team was a champion in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982.
Blacks Stars played Real Madrid and drew
It might seem hard to believe, but on 19 August 1962 on a sunny day at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Spanish giants Real Madrid were challenged by the Black Stars.
At the time, the Spanish mammoths were former European champions and intercontinental champions; still, the Ghana National Football team was able to draw the match 3-3.
Black Stars jersey voted best in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
During the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, BuzzFeed ranked the football kit of the Ghana national football team as the best.
Record AFCON semis appearances
In 2013, the Ghana national football team became the only African team to reach four consecutive Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals twice.