Ghana has only missed one World Cup (2018) since its first appearance in 2006

  • 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.

Ghana’s World Cup journey shows rapid emergence and sustained competitiveness on football’s biggest stage. Since making their debut in 2006, the Black Stars have qualified for every World Cup except 2018, showing strong consistency.

Ghana not only broke onto the global scene relatively late but made an immediate impact—advancing past the group stages in their first two appearances. Their performances underscore a team that is resilient, talented, and has developed over time. Their upcoming 2026 appearance signals continuity, renewed opportunity, and the potential for another deep tournament run.

Source:

FIFA

Period:

1930-2026
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

Nigeria beats Egypt to win AFCON bronze medal, extending its record to nine third-place finishes
  • Nigeria extends its AFCON bronze medal wins to nine, the highest in men’s AFCON history, with another podium finish.
  • The win over Egypt highlights Nigeria’s resilience, turning late-stage setbacks into tangible success.
  • Bronze medals remain rare for most nations, with the majority appearing only once or twice in AFCON history.

Morocco is Africa's top soccer team, ranked 11th globally with 1716.34 points
  • Morocco’s male football team ranks 1st in Africa and 11th globally with 1713.12 points.
  • Senegal ranks 2nd and 19th in the world, confirming its strong international presence.
  • Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria complete Africa’s top five, all within the global top 40.
  • The top 20 list includes teams from all major African regions.
  • Africa has 2 teams in the global top 20, 7 in the top 50, and 13 in the top 70.

Nigeria has lost only one of its 12 quarter-final matches in AFCON history
  • Nigeria has won 11 of its 12 AFCON quarter-final matches, losing only once (2008).
  • The only quarter-final defeat came against Ghana, highlighting the intensity of historic rivalries.
  • Most Nigerian wins were by narrow margins.
  • Nigeria has beaten a wide range of opponents at this stage, including Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa.
  • Penalty shootouts feature twice, reflecting composure under extreme pressure.
  • Nigeria’s quarter-final success spans over 30 years, cutting across different generations of players.

Morocco is Africa's top soccer team, ranked 11th globally with 1716.34 points
  • Morocco’s male football team ranks 1st in Africa and 11th globally with 1713.12 points.
  • Senegal ranks 2nd and 19th in the world, confirming its strong international presence.
  • Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria complete Africa’s top five, all within the global top 40.
  • The top 20 list includes teams from all major African regions.
  • Africa has 2 teams in the global top 20, 7 in the top 50, and 13 in the top 70.

Only 14 African countries have ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup, with the best performance by Morocco (4th place)
  • Cameroon has the highest World Cup appearances (8).
  • Morocco holds Africa’s best-ever performance (4th place), a historic milestone for African football.
  • Tunisia and Morocco both have seven appearances.
  • Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most successful qualifiers (six appearances), with multiple second-round finishes.
  • Algeria and Ghana (five appearances each) show strong track records, with Ghana also reaching the quarterfinals.
  • Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire each have four appearances, but Senegal stands out for reaching the quarterfinals.

CAF Women’s Player of the Year: Nigeria has produced 13 winners since 2001, more than all other countries combined
  • Nigeria remains the country with the most overall winners.
  • Three Nigerian players — Asisat Oshoala (6), Perpetua Nkwocha (4), and Cynthia Uwak (2) — have won the award more than once.
  • Outside Nigeria, only Ghana, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon have produced winners, showing limited spread beyond Nigeria in the first two decades.
  • In recent years, the award has become more competitive, with new winners emerging from Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa, signaling a noticeable shift away from long-standing Nigerian dominance.

POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form

A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved