Ghana’s 2024 sporting rollercoaster

The year 2024 was a tale of contrasts for Ghanaian sports—a year of promise tempered by persistent challenges. 

On one hand, the country witnessed strides in infrastructure, with the Borteyman Sports Complex taking centre stage as a future hub for the University of Sports Development. 

Across the nation, new astroturf pitches emerged, offering a glimmer of hope for nurturing grassroots football talent in the nation’s most beloved sport.

Ghana also played host to some of Africa’s biggest sporting events, drawing the continent’s finest athletes to compete alongside local stars. 

These competitions not only entertained but also provided invaluable exposure and experience for homegrown talent.

Yet, it wasn’t all celebratory. The Black Stars, Ghana’s pride on the football pitch, flirted with the embarrassment of losing home ground advantage for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers due to the dire state of the country’s stadiums. 

Their struggles mirrored a broader narrative of underwhelming performances in several continental and global tournaments.

As 2025 dawns, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the defining moments of a year that left Ghanaians both inspired and exasperated. Here’s a look back at the sporting highs and lows of 2024.

Ghana hosts 13th African Games

The year’s crowning achievement was undoubtedly Ghana’s hosting of the African Games for the first time in its history. 

This monumental event brought the continent’s biggest stars to Ghanaian soil, transforming the nation into a hub of sporting excellence.

Central to the Games’ legacy was the construction of the Borteyman Sports Complex, a US$145 million project. 

The county also constructed West Africa’s first international-standard rugby stadium at the University of Ghana. 

This infrastructure boom symbolised Ghana’s commitment to sports development, but the Games also delivered on the field, with Ghana achieving its highest-ever medal tally since 1973.

The country claimed 69 medals in total—19 gold, 29 silver, and 21 bronze—accounting for 6.3% of the 1,087 medals awarded across 25 disciplines. 

The armwrestling team led the charge, securing an astounding 41 medals (59.4% of Ghana’s total). 

These victories placed Ghana ninth on the all-time list of successful host nations, though still far behind 2019 host Morocco, which amassed 118 medals (10.6% of the total) at the 12th African Games.

However, the Games were not without their challenges. The South African hockey team withdrew, citing concerns over the state of the playing field, casting a shadow over the competition. 

Questions also loomed over the US$245 million price tag of hosting the event, sparking debates about priorities in national spending.

Ghana at 2024 Paris Olympic Games

If the African Games provided a high, Ghana’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics delivered a sobering low. 

The country’s contingent of eight athletes competed in athletics and swimming but failed to make a significant impact.

Sprinters Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu offered glimmers of hope, both reaching the men’s 100m semifinals. 

However, they were ultimately outclassed by global heavyweights, with Azamati clocking 10.17 seconds to finish ninth in his group. Saminu, despite improving his time to 10.05 seconds, fell short of a final berth.

The men’s 4x100m relay team suffered a devastating déjà vu moment, disqualified in the heats for breaching the changeover zone rule—a repeat of their fate at the Tokyo 2020 Games. 

Even without the disqualification, sloppy baton exchanges and inconsistent running would have kept them out of contention.

High jumper Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah, a double gold medallist at the African Games and African Championships, struggled to replicate her form in Paris. 

She failed to clear the automatic qualifying height of 1.97m, finishing 14th with a jump of 1.88m.

Swimming offered little relief, as Joselle Mensah and Harry Stacey placed 36th and 52nd in their respective freestyle events, failing to progress past the first round.

The Black Stars: A year to forget

For Ghana’s beloved Black Stars, 2024 was nothing short of catastrophic. The team failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco—their first absence since 2004.

Earlier, the Stars had endured a disastrous outing at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, finishing third of a group that included Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique. 

The group-stage exit led to the sacking of head coach Chris Hughton, with Otto Addo returning to helm the team. 

Addo’s tenure started on a high with wins over Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but it quickly unravelled.

A series of poor performances in AFCON qualifiers saw Ghana falter in a group featuring Angola, Sudan, and Niger. 

The Stars recorded just two wins across 14 matches in 2024, a dismal 14.3% win rate that underscored the team’s fall from grace.

13-year-old Joanita Borteye makes Africa’s top 20 in table tennis

Amid the setbacks, a 13-year-old table tennis prodigy, Joanita Borteye, offered a glimmer of hope. 

Rising to 11th in the ITTF Women’s Singles Africa rankings and 167th globally, she solidified her position as Ghana’s top player.

Borteye’s standout performances at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Kigali and the West Africa Regional Championships showcased her immense potential.

She defeated seasoned opponents from Senegal, Uganda, and Nigeria, advancing to the later stages of both tournaments. 

Though she fell short of the podium, her rise signals a bright future for Ghanaian table tennis.

Dreams FC’s incredible CAF Confederation Cup journey

In football, Dreams FC provided a heartwarming underdog story. In their first-ever appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup, the club defied expectations, reaching the semifinals—a feat no Ghanaian club had achieved in two decades.

Led by 19-year-old sensation Abdul Aziz Issah, who netted four goals and provided two assists, Dreams FC captured the nation’s imagination. 

Their journey ended with a 3-0 loss to Egyptian giants Zamalek, but their spirited run left an indelible mark on Ghanaian football.

FC Samartex 1996 crowned 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League champions

FC Samartex 1996 crowned an incredible year by winning the 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League. 

Promoted just two seasons ago, the Timber Giants defied expectations, finishing their debut season in 10th place before claiming the league title in style.

Led by coach Nurudeen Amadu, Samartex sealed the championship with a 2-0 victory over Accra Lions on the final day. 

Goals from Emmanuel Mammah and Ebenezer Ocran secured their first-ever league crown, cementing their place in Ghanaian football history.

Paralympic team scandal

The year wasn’t without scandal. In April, an 11-member Ghanaian paralympic team absconded upon arrival in Norway for the Fjordkraft Bergen Marathon. 

Reports later revealed that six athletes and five officials vanished to other Schengen states, sparking an international search.

The Ministry of National Security confirmed the disappearance, with only one athlete apprehended while attempting to cross into Sweden. 

The incident highlighted systemic issues within Ghana’s sports administration and cast a shadow over the country’s international reputation.

Ghana Athletics nominated for 2024 World Athletics Awards

Ghana Athletics was nominated for the prestigious World Athletics’ 2024 Member Federation of the Year Award, alongside global powerhouses like the USA and India. 

Although the award ultimately went to USA Track & Field, Ghana’s nomination is a testament to the progress in athletics, driven by athletes such as Benjamin Azamati, Rose Yeboah, and Joseph Paul Amoah. 

It also underscored the need for further investment and development to bring Ghana up to the level of global track and field giants.

FC Barcelona unveil Ghanaian players Aziz Issah and David Oduro

In a thrilling development for Ghanaian football, FC Barcelona’s junior team, Barca Atletic, unveiled two new signings: Ghanaian players Abdul Aziz Issah and David Oduro. 

Oduro, a standout fullback for Accra Lions, joined after the club’s impressive second-place finish in the 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League. 

Issah, a key figure in Dreams FC’s remarkable CAF Confederation Cup run, joined Barca Atletic after impressing in his two seasons with the club. 

Their moves to one of Europe’s biggest clubs represent a significant milestone for Ghanaian football.

As 2025 begins, Ghanaian sports are at a crossroads. The year 2024 was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, triumphs and disappointments.

But with renewed infrastructure, emerging talent, and the potential for growth, the future remains bright.

The country’s sporting story is far from over, and if 2024 is any indication, the best may yet be to come.

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