How Far Can Ghana go in AFCON 2023?
Ghana is a country with so much self-belief in their national team the Back Stars. A country that believes they can beat any national team in the world, one that believes that participating in Africa’s binannual showpiece is a birthright. Ghana has qualified for the next year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, making it their 24th participation. Every AFCON year, the same question always comes up — can Ghana end their 40 year drought? How far can they go this year?
Story of Qualification
Ghana were drawn in Group E alongside Angola, Central African Republic (CAR), and Madagascar. A group that was supposed to be a walk in the park for the Black Stars ended up going down to the wire. This qualification campaign summed up the Black Stars in recent years — a team with potential very capable of self-sabotaging.
Ghana began their qualifying campaign with an emphatic 3–0 home win against Madagascar; and a disappointing draw away against CAR, a match they were expected to cruise through. The Black Stars hosted Angola in which they won by a dramatic late winner; and another disappointing draw away at Madagascar. The Black Stars were now top of the group heading into final matchday, needing only a draw against CAR in the final game to qualify. Ghana hosted CAR in Kumasi, Ghana’s football capital, their fortress. They have never lost a single match in Kumasi and it was expected that they would keep that slate clean. CAR opened the scoring 25 minutes in, shocking the home crowd and an uninspiring Ghanaian team. The Black Stars then responded with the equaliser before half-time, bringing the match back to life. Momentum was now with them, and all they needed was to maintain the draw or win, basically avoid losing. A Ghana loss meant that CAR and Angola would qualify. CAR held on and were resilient, pressuring the Black Stars for that crucial win. It would all come crashing down for them when Ghana took the lead in the 88th minute. Ghana sealed qualification and Central African Republic after a hard-fought campaign, were sent packing. CAR’s head coach Raoul Savoy was fuming after the match and declared in the saltiest manner, that the Black Stars’ AFCON campaign will end up like the last one, a group stage exit. That sounded like a curse. Ghana ended top of the pack with 12 points, winning 3, drawing 3 and no losses, which sounds impressive on paper but was an eyesore for many. The qualifiers left a bad taste in the mouths of many, who were hoping for a clean sweep in elegant fashion but were met with a scrappy campaign.
The 40-year Drought
Ghanaians have incredibly high expectations of their Black Stars. Why wouldn’t they? This was a nation that nearly made history at the World Cup in 2010, until the Moroccans beat them to it in the 2022 World Cup. Ghana is still the only African nation with an U20 World Cup to its name. Ghanaians know how good their team are, and always expect nothing but quality, heart, and ‘champagne football’. The bar is always set high for this group and the players are expected to deliver, to put on a performance befitting of the support they receive from Ghanaians.
I personally always look forward to an AFCON, not just for the football but for the drama, as well as the memes. Ghana’s AFCON campaigns have always been accompanied by drama — captaincy issues, disputes over money, and so much more that a book could be written about them. The Black Stars have never won the African Cup Of Nations since 1982. In January when the tournament begins, it will be 42 years since they last won it. Ghanaians are thirsty for that trophy, there is a thirst that never seems to be quenched. Whenever it looks like the oasis is in sight, they are met with a mirage of heartbreak. Runners-up in 2010 and 2015; semi-finalists in 2012, 2013 and 2017. I often wonder if Ghana will ever win an AFCON in my lifetime. Will the drought ever end? Will we see rain?
Earlier this month, the groupstage draw took place in Ivory Coast the host nation, and Ghana have been drawn alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. On paper this shouldn’t be hard, right? Right? But Ghana in recent times have struggled against teams they should be beating. They struggle to break down well-drilled and organised sides. This team in recent times has become unpredictable in the worst possible way, and it’s the absolute worst version we witness. A team who used to be feared on the African continent has been reduced to a bang average group that any well-coached side can trouble. The Black Stars have lost the respect of Africa.
From now till January when the tournament kicks off, Ghana will have two competitive fixtures versus Madagascar and Comoros in November to kick-off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and some pre-AFCON friendlies.
Just recently, Ghana played two high-profile friendlies against Mexico and the USA; they came away with two losses, and no goals scored. These two friendlies were meant to test the team’s readiness for the upcoming competitive fixtures. After the dreadful performances in those two matches, the conclusion is that this team is NOT READY for the AFCON and the World Cup Qualifiers. In those two games, there was no heart, no leadership, no clear pattern of play, no effort; not a care in the world. Simply nothing to write home about.
So the question is — how far can the Black Stars go in AFCON 2023? My prediction? Realistically a round of 16 exit but that is even generous. We might be looking at another group stage exit after what we just witnessed. What I can do now is sit behind the screen and cross my fingers hoping the Black Stars I know will shine again. If they don’t win matches, I expect a performance to be proud of. That is what Ghanaians ultimately want to see, a team that cares enough to fight for the badge on their chest.
