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Ghana first appeared at the World Cup in 2006 after missing all 17 previous editions.
They advanced to the second round in 2006, a standout entry for a first-time participant.
In 2010, Ghana reached the quarter-finals, marking their strongest performance to date.
2018 was the only missed World Cup since their debut, reflecting consistent qualification success.
They have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Ghana has made five qualifications within 20 years, showing remarkable frequency for a team that only debuted in 2006.

South Africa did not qualify for any of the first 15 World Cups from 1930 to 1994.
They made their World Cup debut in 1998 and were knocked out in the group stage.
Their second appearance came in 2002, ending again at the group stage.
In 2010, South Africa became the first African country to host the tournament, but still did not progress beyond the group stage.
The country failed to qualify for three straight World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Nigerian players have won the award seven times from 1992 to 2025.
Ivorian players follow with six wins, driven by their strong presence in the 2000s and 2010s.
Only four countries have produced four or more individual winners: Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Senegal.
Just 12 African nations account for all winners across the 33 years, showing how concentrated elite talent production has been.

Nigeria has qualified for six World Cups since its first appearance in 1994.
Three second-round finishes in 1994, 1998, and 2014 represent the country's best performances at the tournament.
Nigeria ended three of its World Cup appearances at the group stage (2002, 2010, and 2018).
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2006, 2022, and 2026 tournaments.
Nigeria did not qualify for any World Cup before 1994, making its debut year a significant milestone.
Qualification challenges are increasing, as shown by more failures in recent cycles.

Nigeria’s sports budget rose sharply to ₦113 billion in 2025, tripling from the 2024 figure.
The 2025 allocation represents a 243.8% increase compared to the previous year.
Youth and Sports budget allocations were relatively stable between 2021 and 2023, averaging about ₦186 billion.
The splitting of the Ministry of Youth and Sports budgets in 2024 likely contributed to the steep dip that year.
The rebound in the sports development budget in 2025 signals government re-prioritisation of sports development.

England tops the world women’s rugby ranking with 97.76 points, maintaining a clear lead over other nations.
Canada and New Zealand follow as the second and third-strongest women’s rugby teams globally.
South Africa ranks 12th and Kenya 20th, making them the only African nations in the global top 20.
Traditional rugby nations like France, Ireland, and Australia feature prominently in the top 10.
Asian teams such as Japan and Hong Kong highlight the growing spread of women’s rugby beyond traditional regions.

South Africa leads the world rugby rankings with 92.78 points, ahead of New Zealand’s 92.06.
The gap between the first and second position is just 0.72 points, showing a close contest at the top.
Ireland remains the highest-ranked European team with 89.83 points.
France and England, with 87.82 and 87.64 points respectively, are in close competition for the fourth and fifth spots.

Global rugby participation grew by 11% in 2023, reaching 8.46 million players.
Female participation increased by 37%, showing the fastest growth in the sport.
Male participation also rose by 26%.
The substantial rise in female players signals rugby’s growing inclusivity.
The global rise suggests rugby is gaining ground beyond traditional rugby nations.

Nigeria leads Africa with 1,630.83 points, ranked 36th globally, maintaining their long-standing supremacy in Africa's women’s football.
South Africa remains second, 165 points behind Nigeria, consolidating their position after consistent WAFCON performances.
North Africa's breakthrough is evident with Morocco at 3rd, driven by recent World Cup appearances and continental success.
There is tight competition in mid-table, with Zambia, Cameroon, and Ghana separated by less than 12 points.

Nigeria’s D’Tigress leads Africa with 640.1 points, holding 8th place in the world rankings.
Mali sits in second with 343.7 points, more than 290 points behind Nigeria.
Senegal, Mozambique, and Cameroon complete Africa’s top five, all ranked within the global top 40.
South Sudan enters the continental top 10 at 10th, while ranking 55th globally.

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