Looking back to Qatar 2022 – Where Ghana Black Stars had some old scores to settle!

The road to Qatar 2022 has been a bumpy one for the Black Stars but its World Cup time and this 2022 tournament is one many Ghanaians have been waiting for. Take away the controversies and politics that people are trying to throw upon the beautiful game. The Black Stars have some old scores or should we say unfinished business to settle.

The Black Stars FIFA World Cup 2022 Group

For the 2022 tournament Ghana will be in Group H and will be facing Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay. Each of these teams the Ghana Black Stars have met before and with every team the Ghana football team as some history. Let us give a some background about this long road to Qatar 2022.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup Game against Portugal – Game 1

The Black stars has history with Portugal unfortunately the 2022 Qatar game was a breath taking episode up until last seconds where the slip by Iñaki Williams stopped the game being square at 3 goals each.

Ghana was not able to turn around the 3 goals score by Portugal. The game ended 2 goals to Portugal’s 3. However, all is not lost Ghana are still in the tournament and still have two old scores to settle one with South Korea and a very big one with Uruguay. Ghana need to either beat or draw any of the next two games against Uruguay or South Korea to qualify to the knock out stages.

Ghana vs Portugal 2022 World Cup Game Highlights

When was the last time the Black Stars played Portugal?

It was the 2014 World Cup and only the second time Ghana had made it to the FIFA World Cup finals. Ghana was in Group D with United States, Germany and Portugal. The “Group of Death” for Ghana, but the Ghana Football Association knew they had made the right choice in team and coach Avram Grant. The team battled with all their hearts trying to make through to the knock out stage. However, a late goal by John Anthony Brooks of the USA in the 86th minute in their opening Game was the first loss. In their second game against Germany Ghana managed to draw 2 goals each. They had held the tournament favorites and eventual winners at bay.

Ghana’s final group game was against Portugal to make it to the the last 16 but it was not to be. Portugal took the lead in the 31st minute by an own goal by John Boye. Then Asamoah Gyan in the second half squared things. It was not till the 80th minute when Cristiano Ronaldo struck the final blow that sealed the fate of Ghana. It was a tough game but at this point the Ghana team were tiered and had nothing left.

Game 2 – Ghana vs South Korea 2022

This game was not easy for the Black Stars after losing to Portugal in the first game a win or a draw was vital to keep hopes of Qatar 2022 alive. What a tense game. The Black Stars took the lead in the first half from a scramble in the box after a free kick when Mohammed Salisu sized upon the loose ball and put it past the South Korean goal keeper. Ghana were in the lead, this was followed by another strike of brilliance when Jordan Ayew crossed the ball which was met by the head of Mohammed Kudos. It was unbelievable the Black Stars were two goals up in the first half this looked like a cruising victory. It seems like Ghana had settled the game in the first half. However, it al seemed to go wrong Ghana’s inability to manage high balls and keep Tottenham’s star striker Son Heung-min under control allowed the South Koreans to come back into the game until Kudos pounced on a miss ball by Iñaki Williams to finish the game. However, Ghana played the last 10 mins of the game in their own half defending like crazy. A win is a win

Ghana vs South Korea 2022 World Cup Game Highlights

When was the last time the Black Stars played South Korea?

The last time Ghana played South Korea was in a warm up game in 2018 when South Korea were on their way to the World Cup in Russia and Ghana were merely spectators.

South Korea suffered a bruising 4 goal to 0 defeat at the hands of the Black Stars which undoubtedly knocked their confidence when going into the 2018 tournament. Apparently this defeat left them dazed for their first two games against which were against Sweden and Mexico where they lost. It was not until their 3rd and final game that they found their form and beat tournament favourites Germany 2 goals to 0.

Game 3 – Ghana vs Uruguay 2022

It was a highly anticipated game, everyone was waiting for it. It was as if it was meant to be. With the game falling on Farmers Day in Ghana the whole nation had nothing else to do but cheer on the Black Stars. Could they? Would they do Ghana justice and put right what was put wrong 12 years ago in 2010?

For some strange reasons luck was on Ghana’s side but in some of the players it seemed like they had already checked out or were over whelmed with the situation. Ghana was awarded a penalty in the first half to which no one was expecting, was it going to be?

Our fate lay in the hands of Andrei Ayew to set this right and then it happened. He missed and it seemed like at that moment he crumbled and so did the hopes of Ghana. All of a sudden the Uruguay team found a new belief in themselves that they could overcome the enormity of the situation and beat Ghana and they did. However, like a twist of fate within the closing minutes as Ghana were trailing Uruguay by 2 goals to nothing South Korea dealt the last blow in the other group game scoring and beating Spain which meant that neither Ghana or Uruguay could qualify.

In this world cup group there were many scores to settle, Ghana did not take the game as serious as Uruguay and played with too much emotion rather than with skill. Big respect to Mohammed Kudos who is definitely the player to watch in this new Black Stars team.

Ghana vs Uruguay 2022 Match Highlights

The back ground to Ghana and Uruguay’s world cup rivalry !

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the second time Ghana and the Black Stars were on the FIFA world football stage. Their first appearance in 2006 in Germany had woken up the football world to the potential of the Black Stars and their formidable playing style.

The stage was set the World Cup was in South Africa the first FIFA World Cup to be held on the continent and the Black Stars were ready. Their group (Group D) looked favourable their only real challenge was Germany. Ghana beat Serbia in their first game with a Asamoah Gyan penalty, their second game against Australia again they scored by a penalty and drew gaining another point.

Their final group game they lost 1 goal to 0 against Germany. But because Germany had lost to Serbia in their previous game the Black Stars finished second in the group and were on their way to the last 16.

Ghana vs Uruguay Game 2010 where it started highlights

How Uruguay made Ghana miss out on FIFA World Cup 2010 semi final?

Ghana was minutes away from a semi final place in 2010. Wait let us give you the back story. The first group game for the Black Stars in the 2010 World Cup was against the USA which was not going to be an easy game as the USA had lost to Ghana in the 2006 World Cup in Germany prior when the Black Stars had made their debut and had beat them 2 goals to 0. So the Americans wanted to set things right. Unfortunately it was not going to be and the Black Stars cruised buy beating the Americans by the same margin they had done in 2006. Two goals to zero, courtesy of Kevin Price Boateng and Asamoah Gyan.

Hans Sarpei header being handled by Saurez

The Black Stars were through the the quarter finals the first African team to make it this far in FIFA World Cup they just had to get past Uruguay to get to the semi final. The 2nd of July 2010 will be etched in the minds of the Ghanaians all over the world as a bad dream. The Black Stars played their hearts out and the game was fluid but at times very dirty with the style of play taken by the Uruguay who seemed to be falling down at every little touch and claiming free kicks left right and centre. At full time both teams had a goal each and went on to play extra time.

They played extra time and this was where it all fell apart, in the closing minutes of extra time Hans Sarpei headed the ball which had goal written all over it only for it to be handled on the line by Louis Suarez. It was a true crime caught in 4k. Suarez was sent off and Ghana was awarded a penalty in the last minutes of extra time. The penalty was not converted by Gyan as it seemed like the pressure was too much. As he went to take the penalty you could feel the nations burden on his shoulders and thoughts of injustice. Unfortunately the concentration of the Black Stars was lost and had been filled with anger and frustration which resulted in them losing on penalty shoot out. The final kick in the shins was the sight of Suarez punching the air in celebration when Uruguay had won on penalties. He had cheated the Black Stars. However, the 2022 meeting did not go in Gahan’s favour.

Where to Watch FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup games in Ghana?

Accra

Find more bars Accra

Kumasi

Ol’ Lady Sports Bar & Lounge (World Cup and Fufu Specials)
StarBites Aksokwa
Golden Eagle Cinema
Aca Poco Sports Pub & Restaurant
Bull Dog Pub

Find more bars in Kumasi

Sekondi

Champs Sports Bar, Takoradi
The Loop Pub and Restaurant
Clip Key Live Matches and Bar, Takoradi

Author: The editor

Working with off site teams to create content and providing insights on all things Ghana related. Always keen to hear from people traveling to Ghana or living in Ghana. As there is so much to see and do and write about