Ghana has won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) four times — in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982 — making the Black Stars one of the most successful national teams in the history of the competition.
Their journey to becoming African football royalty began in 1963 when Ghana hosted the tournament for the first time as shown on the tournament history and Ghana’s records by tournament organsiers, CAFonline.com.
Under legendary coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi, the Black Stars defeated Sudan 3–0 in the final in Accra, announcing their arrival on the continental stage in emphatic fashion.
Just two years later, they confirmed their dominance by winning back-to-back titles in Tunisia. The 1965 triumph was harder earned, coming in a 3–2 extra-time victory against the hosts after a gripping contest.
The third title came in 1978, again on home soil. That year’s edition, hosted in Accra and Kumasi, saw Ghana defeat Uganda 2–0 in the final, with striker Opoku Afriyie scoring both goals.
That win was historic — not just for the title itself — but because it marked Ghana as the first country to win the AFCON three times, allowing them to keep the original trophy permanently, a tradition akin to Brazil’s retention of the Jules Rimet Trophy in the World Cup.
The fourth and most recent triumph came in 1982 in Libya. Coached by Charles Kumi Gyamfi once again, the youthful Ghanaian side showed grit and composure to beat the hosts in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in the final.
It was a remarkable achievement that crowned Ghana as four-time African champions — and at that point, the joint-most successful AFCON team alongside Cameroon.
Since that historic win in Tripoli, however, the Black Stars have endured a decades-long wait for a fifth title. Ghana has reached five finals since then — in 1992, 2010, and 2015 — but were runners-up each time.
The 1992 final loss to Ivory Coast was particularly painful, as it ended 11–10 on penalties, one of the longest shootouts in football history.
In 2010, Ghana lost narrowly to Egypt 1–0 in the final in Angola. Five years later in 2015, the Black Stars came heartbreakingly close once again, losing to Ivory Coast on penalties in Equatorial Guinea.
That final, which ended 0–0 in regulation and extra time, saw Ghana take a 2–0 lead in the shootout before missing their chance to seal it — a loss that continues to haunt many Ghanaian fans.
Despite these near misses, Ghana remains a powerhouse in African football. They have qualified for 24 of the 34 AFCON tournaments and consistently reach the latter stages, boasting one of the best overall records in the competition.
However, expectations remain high for the next generation to end the 43-year trophy drought by ther reporting on the historical and current coverage on Ghana’s football journey on BBC Sport Africa
Ghana’s failure to qualify for the upcoming 2025 edition in Morocco — following a disappointing campaign — has sparked national debate about the direction of the team.
With a proud history and four continental titles, the pressure on the current football leadership and new crop of players to return to former glories is immense.
