Black Stars out of AFCON 2025: A look back at Ghana’s misses on Africa’s biggest stage

For the ninth time in their illustrious history, Ghana’s Black Stars will miss out on Africa’s premier football tournament. 

Their inability to secure a single win in a qualification group featuring Angola, Sudan, and Niger has left them sidelined for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

This latest setback reopens a conversation about Ghana’s long and storied relationship with AFCON—a journey marked by moments of glory and painful misses. 

As fans process their disappointment, let’s revisit the eight other times the Black Stars fell short of making it to the continent’s biggest football stage.

1962: The first heartbreak

The road to AFCON 1962 in Ethiopia marked a new era in African football, as qualifiers were introduced for the first time. 

Ghana, emerging as a football powerhouse, was drawn against their fierce rivals, Nigeria, in the preliminary round.

The first leg, held at Lagos’ Surulere Stadium on 8 April 1961, ended in a tense goalless draw. 

Three weeks later, on 30 April, the drama moved to Accra Sports Stadium. Edward Acquah put Ghana ahead, igniting hope among fans. 

However, goals from Nigeria’s Elkanah Onyeali and Dejo Fayemi turned the tide before Edward Aggrey-Fynn’s last-minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Fate intervened cruelly: Nigeria advanced after drawing lots, leaving Ghana heartbroken. 

The sting of missing out was short-lived, as the Black Stars went on to host and win the 1963 AFCON, kickstarting their golden era.

1972: A narrow miss

By 1972, Ghana’s dominance was well-established, with two AFCON titles under their belt. 

However, the qualifiers for the Cameroon-hosted tournament proved challenging. 

After advancing past Burkina Faso, who withdrew, the Black Stars faced Togo in the final round.

A single goal in Accra was enough for Togo to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory, denying Ghana a spot at the tournament.

1974 and 1976: A double blow

The Black Stars’ woes continued with back-to-back failures in 1974 and 1976. 

Ghana edged past Senegal in penalties during the 1974 qualifiers but fell 4-0 on aggregate to Côte d’Ivoire.

In 1976, after Kwasi Owusu’s heroic five goals against Mali in the first round, Ghana stumbled against Morocco. 

A thrilling second-leg encounter ended in a penalty shootout defeat, marking their third consecutive AFCON absence.

Despite these setbacks, Ghana bounced back to win the 1978 AFCON on home soil, securing their third continental title and a fourth AFCON title in Libya in 1982.

1986 and 1988: The wilderness years

Ghana’s fortunes dipped again in the mid-1980s. They bowed out to Côte d’Ivoire in the second round of qualifiers for the 1986 AFCON and suffered an upset against Sierra Leone in the 1988 qualifiers. 

A 2-1 first-leg loss in Accra and a goalless second leg in Freetown dashed their hopes.

1990: Penalty heartbreak

In 1990, Ghana’s AFCON dream ended in a penalty shootout loss to Gabon after a 1-1 aggregate tie in the first round of qualifiers. 

It marked the end of a decade where their AFCON appearances were sporadic as the team rebounded in 1992, finishing as runners-up in Senegal, and became regulars in subsequent editions.

2004: A final blow

The last time Ghana failed to qualify before 2025 was for the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia. 

Placed in a group with Rwanda and Uganda, the Black Stars managed just one win from four—a 4-2 triumph over Rwanda—and finished bottom of the group.

Looking Ahead

Despite their historical missteps, the Black Stars have been among Africa’s most consistent footballing forces. 

They’ve qualified for every AFCON since 2006, reached the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, and finished as runners-up in the 2010 and 2015 AFCON tournaments.

Missing out on the 2025 AFCON stings, but Ghana’s football narrative is far from over. 

With a legacy of resilience, the Black Stars have shown they can bounce back stronger. 

Fans will hope this latest setback sparks the kind of revival that has defined the team’s history.

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