Ghana – the country, the football
The Republic of Ghana – popularly known as Ghana – is a West African country surrounded by the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Gulf of Guinea. It has a population of about 23,837,000 people, and it is ranked in 81st place in terms of country size, with a total area around 238,535 km².
The country, formally known as “the Gold Cost”, made history by becoming the first Sub-Saharan African nation to obtain its independence in 1957.
Ghana is classified among Africa’s most successful countries when it comes to football, as over the years, their national team the “Black Stars” has managed to dominate the African continent. 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982 all proved to be great years for Ghana, when they won their four African Cup of Nations trophies.
Later on, it seemed like Ghana’s name was being eclipsed from the world of African football. But then, a magnificent come-back with their first-time qualification for the finals of a World Cup (in 2006) brought them back on track. Ghana experienced a lot of things during the tournament that was staged in Germany. They surmounted the misery of losing their first game to qualify from the group stages of the World Cup but they got knocked out on a sour note by Brazil in the last sixteen.
Ghana was then chosen to host the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, and playing as the hosts, the Black Stars were expecting to lift the trophy for a fifth time in their history, but this wasn’t the case. Unluckily, the Ghanaians could only finish in third position following a 1-0 loss to Cameroon in the semifinals.
Having qualified for the 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations which will be held by Angola in 2010, the Black Stars are looking forward to ending up as the favored side – throwing out their strongest weapons known by the name of Michael Essien (Chelsea midfielder), and Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan midfielder).
Ghana - The road to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals
Indifferently, the Black Stars started their Africa Cup of Nations campaign from the second phase of the competition.
There, they were placed in Group 5 along with Gabon, Libya, and Lesotho.
Having controversially won all their 3 home games, and one away match against Lesotho, Ghana finished at the top of their table with 12 points, leading Gabon and Libya (who also had 12 points) on goal difference.
Together with 19 other African national teams, Ghana advanced to the Third Qualifying Round of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations which also included the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification.
The Black Stars were then placed in Pot 1 as top seeds during the draw which took place in Zürich on October 22, 2008 – following their positive results that year which had granted them the 25th position in the FIFA World Rankings.
With Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast all joining them in Pot 1, Ghana knew they had no threat ahead of them, as top seeds were not meant to play each other in the Third Round.
Ghana then went on to occupy the Group D, having with them the likes of Benin, Mali, and Sudan.
Looking at the poor fixtures of their group, the Black Stars were aiming to steal once again their table’s top position - which of course, they did by all means.
The Black Stars finally grabbed an automatic place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as well as a place in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola ; closing their Third Round campaign with 13 points, either 3 points above runners-up Benin.
Ghana – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations group stage
Due to their inconsistent contribution to African football in recent years, Ghana’s Black Stars weren’t able to reserve themselves a place in Pot 1 ahead of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations draw which took place on November 20th this year, in Luanda (Angolan city).
Ghana could only be content of falling in Pot 2 alongside Tunisia, Nigeria and Mali. This eventually toughened their task prior to the group stage, as they had to prepare themselves to be placed with one of the following countries: Angola, Egypt, Cameroon, or Ivory Coast.
In the end, Ghana were drawn in Group B with the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Togo. This is without doubt the toughest group of the competition, as it contains some of Africa’s most entertaining sides, as well as the continent’s best players.
Match-day One:
Ghana’s first game of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola will be against Togo on January 11, 2010. The game is scheduled to start at 18:30 GMT, at the Estádio Chimandela, in Cabinda.
The Black Stars will be looking to start their 2010 African Cup of Nations campaign on a good note with a victory to at least occupy the second place of their table with maximum points after match-day 1.
Ghana won their last meeting against Togo, but no matter what happens this time around in Angola, it will be an interesting game to watch – as star players such as Essien, Muntari and Adebayor, will all be brought to light.
Match-day Two:
Ghana’s second match of the tournament will probably be their most difficult one, as they’ll face African giants Ivory Coast again in Cabinda, in another late kick-off at 18:30 GMT, on January 15.
This will be a repeat of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations’ third place semifinal match, where the Ghanaians shocked Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast to controversially beat them 4-2, and eventually finish with the bronze medal.
The story might change next time around as a hungry and fierce Ivory Coast side might translate the cry of their fans in relentless attacks on the pitch.
This match will be another game not to miss, for it might be a battle between the Black Stars’ leading forces and Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Bakari Kone and many other Ivorian aces.
Match-day Three:
January 19th will witness Ghana’s last group stage game against Burkina Faso in Luanda. The match will kick-off at 16:00 as an afternoon encounter.
Burkina Faso might not be as respected as Ghana when it comes to football, but despite their “weakness”, they could cause the Ghanaians an upset , depending on the level of the Black Stars’ excessive confidence ahead of the game.
Ghana will therefore need to be very serious on this occasion if they are to take away the 3 points and simplify their road ahead of the tournament’s next stages.
Ghana – Quick Analysis: Expectations from the country and its top stars
The 4-time Africa Cup of Nations champions will definitely want to start their 2010 year brilliantly, and obviously, there is no other way they can do so unless they emerge as the “shining stars” of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
In fact, Ghana could consider themselves as hot favorites in the competition, for they've proven to be among Africa’s most dangerous sides since their appearance in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Certainly, with the likes of highly-estimated players including Michael Essien, Andre Ayew, or Richard Kingston, they could feel well-prepared enough to send an ultimatum to the 15 other countries all taking part in the competition with them in January 2010.
Michael Essien:
Chelsea’s 27-year old playmaker’s role in football these past few years has eventually placed him in the list of the world’s best midfielders. His presence for his national team during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ghana was very essential for the Black Stars as he helped them reach the semifinals of the competition.
This time around, the midfielder’s hunger for country glory seems to have a much higher level, and he would certainly want to be on top of things, as his priority would be nothing else but to clinch the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
André Ayew:
The former U-20 captain might not have his name registered in the list of players of top European clubs, yet, he can boast of the great achievement he made back in October 2009, when he led Ghana's youth side to glory after beating Brazil in the final of the Under 20 World Cup in Egypt.
Such a record now sets him apart in Ghana’s football history, and as a result, he has many chances of featuring as a first-team player in Angola. It will therefore be his opportunity to power the Black Stars to splendor on the highest African level, if ever he is to regain the success he had in Cairo.
Milovan Rajevac:
The Serbian manager is the current manager of the Ghanaian national team. Coaching in his first major competition in Africa, Milovan Rajevac is expected surprise his team’s supporters back at home, during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Milovan Rajevac might not possess strong attainments; but nonetheless, he is left with no options but to live up to expectations in order to retain his position as the coach of the Black Stars ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
Ghana - Current Africa Cup of Nations squad
Below is a list showing Ghana's 23-man squad for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Goalkeepers:
D. Adjei; R. Kingston; P. Maccarthy
Defenders:
L. Addy; H. Adu Sarpei; H. Afful; S. Inkoom; J. Mensah; I. Vorsah
Midfielder:
E. Agyeman-Badu; A. Annan; K. Asamoah; I. Ayew; A. Ayew; M. Essien; M. Narry
Attackers:
D. Adiyiah; O. Agyeman-Prempeh; M. Amoah; H. Dramani; A. Gyan; R. Osei
Black Stars ace Stephen Appiah could not make it into Milovan Rajevac's squad, after he sustained a late injury. Sunderland's John Mensah, as well as Laryea Kingston, and John Paintsil also couldn't make it through injury.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari was excluded from the Ghana coach's list following the player's failure to apologise to the GFA for allegedly skipping an international friendly without anyone's consent.
Ghana – Africa Cup of Nations record
Ghana have raised this prestigious African trophy four times in their history. They were the continent’s most successful country in the tournament’s history until 1982, when Cameroon and Egypt came and imposed themselves.
Since then, the Black Stars haven’t been able to win this competition, letting Cameroon and Egypt share among themselves 10 cups in 13 editions of the African Cup of Nations.
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2010: Qualified as participants
2008: Third Place
2006, 1998, 1984, 1980: Round 1
2002, 2000: Quarterfinals
1996, 1994: Fourth Place
1992, 1970, 1968: Second Place
1982, 1978, 1965, 1963: Champions
Check back for more concerning Ghana throughout the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Follow the tournament on Live Soccer TV!
