The only African side to make it out of the group stage in 2006 and the first to qualify for South Africa 2010, Ghana are anxious to prove themselves as the cream of the continent.
Though this will be only their second appearance at the finals, the Black Stars have enjoyed considerable success at all levels of international football. They have won four African Cup of Nations titles, as well as two U-17 World Cups, and they became the first African team to lift the U-20 World Cup when they beat Brazil on penalties in 2009.
The road to South Africa
Ghana guaranteed their place in the finals after going unbeaten through their opening four matches of the final round. They did not concede a goal in the group until a shock 1-0 defeat at Benin, but that came after they had already qualified. The key stretch for the west Africans came in June 2009 when they won 2-0 away to both Mali and Sudan. Ironically, Ghana were shakier in the previous round of qualifying, only topping the group on goal difference over Gabon and Libya after losing a match to both teams.
Star players
While Ghana lack the attacking firepower of many African sides, they rely most prominently on a midfield led by Michael Essien. The Chelsea man usually pairs with Sulley Muntari and captain Stephen Appiah to form a formidable engine room capable of both stifling attacks and creating them. Two of the trio — Asamoah Gyan, Junior Agogo and Matthew Amoah — usually operate in attack.
The coach
Milovan Rajevac was best known for a brief coaching stint with Red Star Belgrade as well as leading perennial Serbian strugglers FK Borac to their first-ever qualification for a European tournament.
Facts
- Ghana were the youngest team at Germany 2006, with an average age of just under 24 years.
- Asamoah Gyan scored the fastest goal of the 2006 World Cup after 68 seconds in their 2-1 win over Czech Republic. It was also Ghana’s first-ever goal in the finals.
- Ghana lost 3-0 to Brazil in the second round of Germany 2006, but they were without the talismanic Michael Essien, who was suspended. — Fifa