Football in Ghana

Football is the most popular sport in Ghana. The national governing body is the Ghana Football Association. Internationally, Ghana is represented by the male Black Stars and the female Black Queens. The top domestic football league in Ghana is the OneTouch Premier League.

History

main|History of football in GhanaIt is on record that the game of football was introduced into the Gold Coast towards the close of the 19th century by merchants from Europe. Sailors during their leisure times played football among themselves and sometimes with a select side of the indigenous people. The popularity of the game spread like wild fire within a short time along the coast culminating in the formation of the first football club, Excelsior, in 1903 by Mr. Briton, a Jamaican-born Briton, who was then the Head Teacher of Philip Quaicoe Government Boys School in Cape Coast.

Ghana national men's football team

main|Ghana national football teamThe "Black Stars" team is one of the highly rated national football teams in Africa. Ghana has won the African Cup of Nations championships on four occasions. They also reached the quarter finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup before being eliminated by the Brazil. Some illustrious players have been Charles Kumi Gyamfi Abedi Pele, Abdul Razak, Tony Yeboah, Samuel Kuffour and Michael Essien.

Ghana national women's football team

main|Ghana women's national football teamThe "Black Queens" have taken part in all the FIFA Women's World Cup championships since 1999. The team has however failed to go beyond the first round on each occasion. Ghana has also been runner up to Nigeria on three occasions in the African Women's Championships. Two Ghanaians, Alberta Sackey and Adjoa Bayor have been voted African Women Player of the Year.

OneTouch Premier League

main|OneTouch Premier League

Ghanaian FA Cup

main|Ghanaian FA Cup

Accra Sports Stadium disaster

main|Accra Sports Stadium disaster