The game of football is undoubtedly the most popular game of all, as thousands of fans get wild with excitement over their team’s performance. It is also one of the most viewed sporting events all over the world due to its widespread coverage of electronic media.
The Africa Cup of Nations or more commonly known as AFCON is the main international men’s football association in Africa. Its origin dates from June 1956, when during the third FIFA congress in Lisbon, a proposal was made to create the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament started in 1957 and is held once in two years since 1968. The most successful nations since its inception are Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. Although Egypt led the score by lifting the trophy seven times since 1957, and Cameroon five times, Ghana’s performance has been exemplary as it kept its position by winning the trophy 4 times and becoming runners up 5 times.
Ghana and Football has been synonymous since a very long time. Actually in the sports world Ghana has been topping the list as a nation of boxers and footballers. The Senior National Football team has been on a winning spree from as far back as 1963, having won the African Cup of Nations trophies.
In 1963, Ghana hosted the event and also made its first appearance. This was a glorious year as the team convincingly (3-0) humbled Sudan in the final and won the trophy. Two years later in Tunisia they again became champions beating the host by 3-2. Now, they were on equal grounds with Egypt both having won twice. In 1968 and 1970 they became a close second losing by a solitary goal each time.
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Not only Ghana’s Senior team, but Ghana’s junior team such as, the Black Meteors, Black satellites, Black Starlets along with women’s team – Black Princess, Black Queens and Black Maidens has also proved that they are a force to be reckoned with.
They have participated with valor and performed with a rare show of skill and teamwork at various international tournaments and made contributions to the glory of their nation by winning trophies.
The Black Meteors have been true to their name as they were the very first football team from Africa to win medals in Olympic Games, which they did by winning the bronze at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. They have also participated in All African Games and won championship trophies.
Ghana’s young Turks, the Under-20 national team is called Black Satellites. They are also not to be the one left behind in terms of contributing to Ghana’s glory as a football nation.
They became the first and also the only African team to win FIFA's Under-20 World Cup. In the same year the team also won the CAF Under-20 tournament. They also became African champions in 1993, 1999, and 2009 and participated in nineteen FIFA Under-20 World Cup tournaments.
Ghana has another team of Under-17 storm troopers, who have been quite formidable although being the youngest of the nation’s football teams. They are called the Black starlets. They have proved their merit on an international level by lifting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup two times in 1991 and 1995, and becoming runners up in 1993 and 1997.
Ghana’s successes in the football arena have also seen a significant contribution by the national female teams. Black Queens, the senior female team is one of the few teams from Africa that have participated in the women’s World Cup, although they could not make it to the group stage.
However, the skills of some of the players have been so extraordinary that it has made Ghana proud. The Black Princess is the female Under-20 team, which has won the African Women Under-20 championship five times and has also participated in the World Cup twice.
The Black Maidens, the under-17 female team, is the leading African team in this category to have qualified for the World Cup. They have also won the African championships five times.
With all this past glory in the background it is sad and disheartening that Ghana’s football is lacking lustre nowadays. One of the major reasons may be that there has been a massive migration of players to Europe where the scope and remuneration is much higher. The second reason is the lack of interest of the local league. Black Stars’ participation at the World Cup brought hopes of regaining the past glory of Ghanaian football. There have been positive signs as the team has shown good performances at the CAF level.
The present situation in Ghana’s football performance is also contributed by petty squabbles, lack of unity, fight for power, and meagre remuneration as per present day standards. There have been allegations against the management for indulging in favoritism and corruption leading to discontent among players.
In modern times, the game of football, or for that matter any major sports event, runs on corporate principles of operation. Here the management must be completely accountable for the performance of the team. The old idea of domination and keeping all decisions within a small group of top brass is bound to fail at the end due to distrust.
Management by participation and transparency along with patriotic spirit is the key to motivate the players to place their faith on the management and put in their best to win trophies for their nation. Currently, the funds are also dwindling because there are no sponsors from the Corporate.
Attention also has to be paid to make the facilities match international levels so that more fans are attracted and come to watch the game. Unfortunately, this is not so in Ghana, as the stadiums lack the basic facilities of comfortable seats or proper washrooms.
However, Ghana has football in its veins and there are talents that can vie with any international team. It will definitely make Ghana rise and regain its past seat of glory in the near future.