After announcing the 55-member preliminary squad on 4th November, Ghana Head Coach Otto Addo announced the final 26-member squad for the FIFA World Cup 2022 on 14th November.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be the fourth World Cup appearance for the Black Stars, who missed out on the 2018 edition after experiencing three consecutive World Cup appearances (2006, 2010 and 2014). This CAF side is very unpredictable on the field, as the players can stun in Qatar.
World Cup History
Ghana made their FIFA World Cup debut in the 2006 edition. Though they were drawn in the very competitive Group E with Italy, Czech Republic and USA, the Black Stars advanced to the Round of 16 of that edition by claiming victories against the Czech Republic (2-0) and the USA (2-1), while they started that competition with a 2-0 defeat against Italy.
The defending champions, Brazil, met Ghana during the Round of 16 of the 2006 edition, where the Selecao won by 3-0.
During the 2010 edition, Ghana were very close to becoming the first African side to qualify for the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup. In the quarter-finals of that tournament, Uruguay only beat them in the penalty shootout. During that game, the Uruguayan star Luis Suárez controversially handled a ball on the goal-line to deny a goal, but Ghana also subsequently missed the penalty.
In the 2014 edition, Ghana were in Group G with Germany, USA and Portugal. In that group of death, Ghana finished in the last position with only one point as they had a stunning 2-2 draw against Germany.
After missing out on the 2018 edition, the Black Stars are back in the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Their legendary player Asamoah Gyan scored six goals in the FIFA World Cup tournament history.
Last Tournament
While Ghana didn’t qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018, they were eliminated from the Group stage in the FIFA World Cup 2014. During that 2014 edition in Brazil, Ghana fought against Germany, the USA and Portugal, where the Black Stars ended in the last spot of that group of death with only one point.
Qualification for World cup 2022
In the FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF), Ghana directly started from the second round as they were in the seventh position among the top 26 FIFA-ranked CAF teams to earn a bye to the second round.
In that second round, Ghana had two-legged encounters each against South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe in Group G. Just like South Africa, Ghana also managed 13 points at the end of that round with four wins, one draw and one defeat. Interestingly, they also had the same goal difference (+4), but Ghana (7) had one goal advantage over South Africa (6) to seal the top spot of Group G to advance to the third round of that qualification. In that second round, Ghana only lost against South Africa (1-0) and also had a 1-1 draw against Ethiopia.
In the third round of that qualification, Ghana faced Nigeria in a double-leg encounter. While it ultimately had a 1-1 result (0-0 & 1-1), the Black Stars ultimately qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022 by away goal rules advantage.
Check here Portugal’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and Netherlands’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
Preparation for World Cup 2022
After losing against Qatar (2-1) in August and Brazil (3-0) in September, Ghana beat Nicaragua (1-0) in September. Just three days before the FIFA World Cup 2022, Ghana beat Switzerland 2-0 in UAE.
Ghana FIFA World Cup squad 2022:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi (St Gallen), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko), Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen)
Defenders: Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Abdul Rahman Baba (Reading), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot)
Midfielders: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd) [Captain], Mohammed Kudus (AFC Ajax), Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (SC Freiburg), Elisha Owusu (Gent), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Salis Abdul Samed (RC Lens)
Forwards: Daniel Afriyie (Hearts of Oak), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting Lisbon), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao).
Head Coach: Otto Addo
Captain Andre Ayew is ready to guide his nation in the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will be his third World Cup experience.
Apart from the potential first-choice goalkeeper Joe Wollacott, midfielder Iddrisu Baba is also frustrated to miss this World Cup due to injuries. The other notable missing names for the Qatar 2022 are winger Joseph Paintsil, versatile attacker Jeffrey Schlupp, young striker Felix Afena-Gyan, midfielder Majeed Ashimeru etc.
Also Read | Belgium’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and Uruguay’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
Strength
Along with the star brothers Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew and the star midfielder Thomas Partey, Ghana also have talented names like Abdul Issahaku, Mohammed Kudus, Tariq Lamptey, Iñaki Williams etc. While the Black Stars have the ability to seriously challenge any team, their unfamiliar nature can become an asset for the team.
Weakness
The Black Stars aren’t consistent enough on the field. Moreover, their recent records against the top 100-ranked teams are really weak, as they won only twice out of their last 12 games against these teams. Also, their most experienced players, the Ayew brothers are not in goal-scoring form, especially in the national jersey.
Star Player: Andre Ayew
Captain Andre Ayew is ready to experience his third World Cup edition for Ghana, who scored two goals in the 2014 edition. In the FIFA World Cup 2022, the 32-year-old has to play a crucial role for his nation along with his brother Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus and others.
How Ghana will line up at FIFA World Cup 2022?
Opponents & Fixtures
(Group H)
Portugal vs Ghana – 24th November 2022, Stadium 974, Doha (19:00 local time/21:30 IST)
South Korea vs Ghana – 28th November 2022, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan (16:00 local time/18:30 IST)
Ghana vs Uruguay – 2nd December 2022, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah (18:00 local time/20:30 IST)
Prediction
Ghana are in the tough group as Portugal and Uruguay are very strong sides with unpredictable South Korea. However, some experts believe that the Black Stars will put a strong challenge in this group and have the ability to enter the knockout stages.
If the Black Stars reach the quarter-finals, it will be a huge achievement for them in the FIFA World Cup 2022. However, their group-stage battle is really hard.
