The history of Ghana’s failures to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations is a key aspect of their football journey. Looking back at the various tournaments where the Black Stars fell short of making it to the prestigious competition gives insights into the ups and downs of Ghanaian football.
In 1962, Ghana missed out on the AFCON held in Ethiopia after a close battle with Nigeria in the qualifiers. The draw in both legs saw Nigeria advance on goal difference, leaving Ghana out of the tournament. This was just the beginning of a series of disappointments for the Black Stars.
Fast forward to 1972, Ghana, despite having previously won the trophy, failed to qualify for the AFCON hosted by Cameroon. A defeat to Togo during the qualifiers ended their hopes of participating in the tournament that year. The trend continued in 1974 when Ghana lost to Senegal in a dramatic qualification round, denying them a spot in the tournament held in Egypt.
The failures persisted in 1976 as Ghana was defeated by Morocco in a penalty shootout, preventing them from reaching the AFCON hosted in Ethiopia. Subsequent years saw Ghana missing out on the 1986, 1988, and 1990 tournaments due to losses in the qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Gabon, respectively.
In 2004, Ghana finished with only 4 points in the qualifiers, failing to make it to the AFCON once again. The most recent disappointment came in 2025 when the Black Stars, under Otto Addo’s leadership, secured only three points in their group, ultimately failing to qualify for the tournament in Morocco.
Overall, Ghana has experienced nine occasions where they failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting the challenges and setbacks faced by the national team in their quest for continental glory. Despite these setbacks, the resilience and determination of the Black Stars continue to drive them forward as they aim to overcome past disappointments and achieve success in future tournaments.
