The Black Stars of Ghana are billed to clash with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Luiz Suarez’ Uruguay in the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup to be staged in Qatar in November 2022.
This was made known today during the World Cup draw in Doha where Ghana was drawn in GROUP H together with A Seleçao(The Selection) of Portugal, La Celeste( The Sky Blue) of Uruguay and (Tigers of Asia) South Korea.
From the Ghanaian perspective, the Black Stars will have fresh in their minds, what ensued at the FIFA World Cup in 2010 which was hosted by South Africa. Despite the historic feat chalked as a quarter finalists, the Black Stars could have written a better history.
Luiz Suarez’ “handball intervention” which denied Dominic Adiyiah, Ghana’s second goal in the dying embers of the game will always be remembered as a bad moment for Ghana. As if that was not enough, the subsequent golden opportunity from the spot was saved by the woodwork when Asamoah Gyan who had scored a couple in that tournament already, stepped up.
Ghana will also remember another bad turn of events at the mention of Portugal as their opponents. The last World Cup match Ghana ever played was against Portugal in 2014 and that was after the Stars have put up a stellar performance in what was arguably the best entertaining game in Brazil 2014 against Germany which ended 2-2.
Ghana had to surrender to an already eliminated Portugal in the final group G game by 2 goals to 1.
South Korea will be the only side in the group to face Ghana for the first time in a World cup game as far as Group H is concerned.
This is how Ghana’s opponents have fared against their African opponents.
PORTUGAL
Portugal will be making its 9th appearance at the World Cup
Their best results occurred in 1966 when they finished as second runner up.
They have played five times against African nations without much dominance considering their pedigree.
They have won twice including the one against Ghana in 2014, lost once and drawn twice.
1986. Morocco 3-1 Portugal
2006. Portugal 1-0 Angola
2010. Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal
2014. Portugal 2-1 Ghana
2018. Morocco 0-0 Portugal
The arguably greatest of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his side and will obviously be the main man to keep tabs on. In 2014, despite going blank against Germany and USA, He scored his only goal of the tournament against Ghana.
Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandez who scored a brace to win over North Macedonia in the last round of qualifiers can not be overlooked.
URUGUAY
Uruguay will be making their 14th appearance at the World Cup this year
They won the very first edition when they hosted it in 1930 and won another in 1950.
They have met four African countries at the World Cup. They have won twice and drawn twice. The last draw was against Ghana in 2010 where they went on to win 4-2 on penalty shootout.
2002: Senegal (3-3)
South Africa (won 3-0) 2010
Ghana (won 4-2 on penalties)
Egypt (won 1-0)
Players to watch: Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani both featured against Ghana in the 2010 epic encounter. Their availability is one thing that will spark the euphoria around the fixture. It will also definitely test Ghana’s defense.
SOUTH KOREA
SOUTH KOREA will be making their 11th appearance at the World Cup.
Their best result occurred in 2002 when they hosted the tournament together with their Asian Counterparts, Japan. South Korea reached the quarter finals in that competition.
Record against African countries in World Cup.
They have played with three African Countries. Won once and lost none.
Nigeria 2-2 South Korea
Togo 1-2 South Korea
Algeria 4-2 South Korea
Players to watch: HEUNG MIN SON and Hee-chan Hwang. are two phenomal players in the English Premier League that would definitely seek to excite football fans.
In all the threats, the Black Stars have always surprised football fans in the positive way in each of their three appearances. Clearly, they might be last in the pecking order on paper, but as always, they may be a force to reckon.
Source: Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Frank Appiah
