Team Profile - Ghana

Ghana go in search of a record breaking fifth MTN Africa Cup of Nations title but have been hit by injury to key personnel on the eve of the tournament.

An ankle injury to Africa’s most expensive footballer Michael Essien is a massive blow to the team’s hopes of verifying their new-fund status of World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana return to the MTN Africa Cup of Nations tournament after the ignominy of missing out on the 2004 finals in Tunisia when they were beaten out of top place in their qualifying group by minnows Rwanda.

It was a massive embarrassment for the Black Stars but they have taken the coach who was architect of that downfall, Ratomir Dujkovic, and employed him to take the side to new heights.

Ghana were Nations Cup winners last in

1982 when they beat Libya on post-match penalties in the final.

They were runners-up in Senegal in 1992 when Abedi Pele was suspended for the final and eventually lost to the Ivorians, again in the lottery of a post-match shootout. 

Ghana’s last game at the finals was in the quarter-finals in Mali in 2002 when Nigeria knocked them out and the two countries now meet again in Port Said in Group D.