MTNFootball

They were again hosts in 1978 and beat Uganda 2-0 in the final to claim a third title, and they added a fourth four years later when they beat hosts Libya 7-6 on penalties after their final had finished 1-1 to complete a familiar pattern.

Junior international football has traditionally been a strong point for the Ghanaians, having claimed the runners-up spot at the 1993 and 2001 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and twice been winners of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 1991 and 1995.

That strength at junior level has bore fruit in the current generation of stars, with the Class of 2009 very much still influenced by the players who reached the second round of the World Cup in Germany.

They did that by finishing runners-up to Italy in their Group. After a 2-0 defeat to the Azzurri in their first match, they stunned the Czech Republic with a 2-0 win and then beat a much-vaunted American side 2-1 to reach the second round.

There they came up against the might of Brazil, and an early goals from Ronaldo put them on the back-foot, before Adriano and Ze Roberto piled on the misery in a 3-0 defeat.

They will have learnt from that tournament though and to get out of the group stages at the first attempt makes their first-ever showing a success.
And they were the first side to clinch qualification in Africa (after hosts South Africa) for the 2010 World Cup having won their first four matches with wins over Benin (1-0), Mali (2-0) and Sudan (a pair of 2-0 wins).

Although they are a side who can score goals from anywhere, it has been their stout defence which has really won them their place at the 2010 World Cup.

Read more about Ghana's Group D Opponents

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Team History