The Black Stars nation
🇬🇭

Ghana

Black Stars · GPL · Super Clash · academies · stadiums · where to watch · betting market. The full map of Ghanaian football, updated for 2026.

National team arrow_downward Biggest clubs

AFCON titles

4

1963, 1965, 1978, 1982

FIFA U-20 World Cup

1

2009 — first African nation to win

World Cup appearances

4

2006, 2010, 2014, 2022

FIFA ranking

#57

April 2026

GPL clubs

18

top flight

Black Queens WAFCON

3

women — 3 finals

The Black Stars

sports_soccer
person

Head Coach

Otto Addo

Since March 2024

military_tech

Captain

Mohammed Kudus

account_balance

Governing Body

Ghana Football Association (GFA)

apparel

Kit

White, red, gold and green

stadium

Home Stadiums

  • Accra Sports Stadium (40,000)
  • Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi (40,528)
info GFA has deliberately increased GPL-based player representation in the senior squad since 2024 — a direct response to the 2022 World Cup domestic-league gap.

Tournament Record

AFCON 24 apps

Winner (×4)

1963, 1965, 1978, 1982

World Cup 4 apps

Best: Quarter-final

2010 (South Africa)

FIFA U-20 WC 7 apps

Winner

2009 Egypt

CAF U-20 20 apps

Winner (×4)

1993, 1999, 2009, 2021

Legendary Players

AP

Abedi Pele

1982–1998 · Attacking Midfielder

Three-time African Footballer of the Year · UCL winner with Marseille

67 caps · 33 goals
AG

Asamoah Gyan

2003–2019 · Striker

All-time top scorer · three World Cup tournaments

109 caps · 51 goals
ME

Michael Essien

2002–2014 · Midfielder

Chelsea PL winner · iconic 2010 World Cup run

59 caps · 9 goals
TY

Tony Yeboah

1985–1998 · Striker

Bundesliga Golden Boot · Leeds United cult figure

59 caps · 29 goals
SA

Stephen Appiah

1996–2014 · Midfielder

Captain of the 2006 first Ghana World Cup squad

67 caps · 14 goals
MK

Mohammed Kudus

2019–now · Attacker

Current Black Stars captain · Tottenham Hotspur

modern era

Top Leagues

Ghana Premier League (GPL) 18 clubs · GHS 1.5m prize · CAF qualifiers
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Division One League Semi-professional — feeder to GPL
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Regional Division Two Amateur / regional
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Ghana Women's Premier League (GWPL) 16 clubs · Hasaacas Ladies dominant in modern era
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Fan Culture

Ghanaian football fandom is the most vocal and most musical on the continent. The 'Red Army' (Hearts of Oak) and the 'Fabulous' (Kotoko) sing through 90 minutes at any venue. Black Stars tournament runs organise community gatherings from Kumasi markets to the Ghanaian diaspora in the Bronx, London and Toronto — always with specific chants, songs and community organisers.

local_fire_department Super Clash — Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak arrow_forward

Top Clubs
All →

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Asante Kotoko

Kumasi

26× titles
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Hearts of Oak

Accra

20× titles
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Bibiani Gold Stars

Bibiani

1× titles
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Samartex

Samreboi

1× titles
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Medeama SC

Tarkwa

1× titles
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Dreams FC

Accra
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Bechem United

Bechem

Famous Stadiums

stadium

Baba Yara Stadium

Kumasi · 40,528 Cap.

Ashanti Region's largest · Asante Kotoko home + Black Stars qualifiers
stadium

Accra Sports Stadium

Accra · 40,000 Cap.

Hearts of Oak home · Black Stars regular · 2001 disaster site
stadium

Cape Coast Sports Stadium

Cape Coast · 15,000 Cap.

Central Region hub · Ebusua Dwarfs home
stadium

Tamale Aliu Mahama Stadium

Tamale · 20,000 Cap.

Northern Region flagship — RTU home

Academies — where the talent is made

A small number of structured academies produce most of the professionals. If you're tracking where the next generation comes from, start here.

Right to Dream Academy
place Old Akrade · founded 1999
school
Notable alumni Mohammed Kudus, Gideon Mensah, Kamal Deen, Majeed Waris — GPL's most productive academy
Feyenoord Fetteh Academy
place Gomoa Fetteh · founded 1999
school
Notable alumni Dutch-Ghanaian partnership academy — closed 2011
West African Football Academy (WAFA)
place Sogakope · founded 1999
school
Notable alumni Majeed Waris, Moses Odjer, Edwin Gyasi
Cheetah FC Academy
place Kasoa · founded 2004
school
Notable alumni Mohammed Kamaruddeen, Baba Iddrisu

tv Where to Watch

  • STA
    StarTimes Sports All GPL matches + Black Stars qualifiers — paid TV + app
  • MAX
    Max TV Selected GPL matches per matchday
  • GHA
    GhanaFA YouTube 2 free live GPL streams per weekend
  • GTV
    GTV Sports+ One Black Stars home fixture per window free-to-air

In the diaspora

  • UK: Futaa · DStv Now (Black Stars fixtures)
  • USA: SuperSport USA (CAF fixtures)
  • West Africa: SuperSport + StarTimes

payments Betting Market

Sports betting is regulated by the Gaming Commission of Ghana. Licensed operators include betPawa (current GPL title sponsor), SportyBet, Betway and SafariBet. GPL markets are available on all licensed operators; local CAF and Black Stars markets have the deepest volume.

Gambling in Ghana — full guide (coming 2026) arrow_forward

edit_note Top Authors

KM

Kofi Mensah

Senior Writer · Black Stars + GPL
KO

Kwame Owusu

Junior Writer · Ashanti Region football

 Write for Ghana →
female

Women's football

The Black Queens have reached three WAFCON finals (1998, 2002, 2006) without winning. Hasaacas Ladies became the first Ghanaian side to reach a CAF Women's Champions League final (2021). The GFA's women's programme has seen increased investment since Nora Häuptle's 2023 appointment.

WAFCON titles
0×
Team
Black Queens
Captain: Portia Boakye
Head coach
Nora Häuptle
Since February 2023
League
Ghana Women's Premier League (GWPL)
Hasaacas Ladies + Ampem Darkoa Ladies

help Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ghana's national football team called? add
The senior men's team is the Black Stars. The women's team is the Black Queens. Youth teams have their own names: the Black Starlets (U-17), Black Satellites (U-20) and Black Meteors (U-23).
How many AFCON titles has Ghana won? add
Four. Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1963 (hosted in Ghana), 1965 (Tunisia), 1978 (hosted in Ghana again) and 1982 (Libya). Only Egypt and Cameroon match or exceed Ghana's AFCON record.
What is the best football league in Ghana? add
The Ghana Premier League (GPL) is the top flight, currently sponsored as the betPawa Premier League. 18 teams play 34 matches per season. Bibiani Gold Stars won the 2024–25 GPL — their first league title — following Samartex (2023–24) and Medeama SC (2022–23).
Who is the best football player in Ghana right now? add
As of 2026, Mohammed Kudus is the consensus pick — current Black Stars captain and a Premier League regular for Tottenham Hotspur. Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Kamaldeen Sulemana round out the senior European-based core.
When did Ghana first play at the World Cup? add
Ghana's first FIFA World Cup appearance was the 2006 edition in Germany. The Black Stars won their group (including a 2–0 win over the USA) and lost 0–3 to Brazil in the Round of 16.
Which Ghanaian club is most successful in African competition? add
Asante Kotoko — the only Ghanaian club to have won the CAF Champions League twice (1970 and 1983). Accra Hearts of Oak won the CAF Champions League once, in 2000, plus the 2001 CAF Super Cup.
Where can I watch the GPL outside Ghana? add
SuperSport USA carries selected CAF fixtures. The GhanaFA YouTube channel streams two free live matches per weekend globally. Futaa.com covers selected matches for the UK/European diaspora. StarTimes carries the league across West Africa.
Has Ghana won the FIFA U-20 World Cup? add
Yes — Ghana's Black Satellites won the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, beating Brazil on penalties in the final. Ghana became the first African nation ever to win a senior FIFA tournament in any age category.
Who is Ghana's all-time top scorer? add
Asamoah Gyan with 51 goals from 109 caps. He also holds the African record for goals at the FIFA World Cup finals with 6 — across the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments.
What is the best football academy in Ghana? add
Right to Dream Academy (Old Akrade) is the most productive — alumni include Mohammed Kudus, Majeed Waris and dozens of European-league professionals. West African Football Academy (WAFA, Sogakope) and Cheetah FC Academy (Kasoa) are the other leading institutions.
Who is in the current Ghana football squad? add
The Black Stars' current core under Otto Addo includes regulars such as Mohammed Kudus (captain), Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh. For the definitive 23-man matchday squad, check the Ghana Football Association's official announcements ahead of each international window.

Related Hubs

League Ghana Premier League Club Asante Kotoko Club Hearts of Oak Derby Super Clash

Last updated 2026-04-21 · written by Kofi Mensah (Accra-based Ghana Football Writer).