An entirely different-looking Ghana squad to what many would have expected to see little over a year ago will take to the field in Qatar, in what is a return to the top table for the Black Stars, who missed the 2018 edition in Russia.
Coach Otto Addo is blessed to have many players at his disposal who have switched nationalities or returned from semi-retirement in time to mould a team together with the potential to cause a surprise or two.
© Reuters
Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams, Brighton & Hove Albion's Tariq Lamptey and Mohamed Salisu of Southampton are among those who have recently come into the fold, and all appear exciting additions to a squad containing Ayew brothers Jordan and Andre, and Arsenal's Thomas Partey.
However, it is a very inexperienced squad at this sort of level, and it is unclear whether they will handle the pressure fearlessly and put on a good showing, or fall short like they did in their previous finals appearance in 2014.
Here, Sports Mole assesses Ghana's prospects at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
GROUP
The heavens did not look down on Ghana favourably during the group-stage draw, as they were drawn into one of the few groups which contained two World Cup heavyweights.
Portugal and Uruguay will enter Group H as resounding favourites to progress, but both nations are prone to implosion among their ranks, and Ghana will hope they can pounce on any opportunity they get.
Their final group fixture against Uruguay may have a lot riding on it both in the group and for national pride, as Ghana will be desperate for revenge following their encounter in 2010, when a late Luis Suarez handball denied Ghana a spot in the semi-finals.
South Korea are the other threat in Group H, and while not at their best heading into this tournament, they always present a challenge when it comes to the big stage.
FIXTURES
November 24: Portugal vs. Ghana (4pm, 974 Stadium, Doha)
November 28: South Korea vs. Ghana (1pm, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)
December 2: Ghana vs. Uruguay (3pm, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
CAF qualification has become notoriously difficult with many African nations developing into very capable outfits in recent decades, and while Ghana fell victim in 2018, they saw off some stiff opposition to book their ticket to Qatar this time around.
The first phase saw them pitted in a group alongside South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, with just one side progressing to the playoff round.
© Reuters
Three wins out of three at home proved crucial to the Black Stars' progression, as they scraped through by the skin of their teeth on goals scored ahead of South Africa after both sides finished on 13 points, thanks to a Ghanaian win over Bafana Bafana on the final matchday.
Things would only get tougher in the playoff rounds too, as Ghana were unseeded for the draw and were paired up with much-fancied Nigeria.
Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg at home, Ghana surprised the continent by claiming a spot in the finals thanks to 1-1 draw in front of a capacity crowd in Abuja, qualifying on away goals after surviving a 65-minute onslaught on their goal by the hosts.
RECENT FORM
Since qualification for the finals, most of Ghana's competitive action has been in African Nations Championship qualifying, a separate tournament reserved only for players who play in Africa to represent their national side.
The main national side have played a few friendlies and took part in the Kirin Cup in Japan during the summer, where, despite going down to nine men, they held on for penalties against Chile before a successful shootout saw them claim third place.
© Reuters
A heavy 4-1 defeat to hosts Japan was far from ideal, but Addo was without some important players who will feature in the upcoming finals.
The international break in September again brought another heavy defeat, this time 3-0 at the hands of pre-tournament favourites Brazil.
They were able to put that result right a few days later by beating Nicaragua 1-0, but the sides awaiting them in Qatar will be of substantially higher quality.
SQUAD
🚨𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟔-𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗡 𝗤𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗥. #BlackStars | @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/C21kArl3hR
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) November 14, 2022
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Ibrahim Danlad (Asante Kotoko), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen)
Defenders: Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Abdul Rahman Baba (Reading), Alexander Djiku (Racing Strasbourg), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Denis Odoi (Club Bruges), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton), Alidu Seidu (Clermont)
Midfielders: Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (Freiburg), Elisha Owusu (Gent), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens)
Forwards: Daniel Afriyie (Hearts of Oak), Andre Ayew (Al Sadd), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting Lisbon), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Kamal Sowah (Club Bruges), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
STAR PLAYER - MOHAMMED KUDUS
© Reuters
Unquestionably Ghana's best player, Mohammed Kudus hit form at the perfect time, even if his club Ajax have had a very shaky start to the season.
Ten league goals across all competitions already for the Dutch champions this season is double the amount Kudus notched in the last two seasons combined, but injury had curtailed both campaigns and restricted him from potentially bagging himself a big move to one of Europe's elite leagues.
When fit and firing though, he has shown what he is capable of, especially in the Champions League, where he scored four group-stage goals despite Ajax's failure to progress into the knockout round, with goals at home to Rangers and away at Anfield prominent on the highlights reel.
Not only is he Ghana's greatest goal threat, he also possesses their main creative spark, often deployed as a number 10 for the national side, as opposed to being up front where he has been playing at club level.
After a late move to Everton broke down in the summer transfer window, a good showing at the finals could provide an even bigger proposition for Kudus to consider over the January window.
MANAGER - OTTO ADDO
© Reuters
After a woeful display at the Africa Cup of Nations, which saw minnows Comoros eliminate the Black Stars, Otto Addo replaced Milovan Rajevac and received many plaudits from his countrymen for guiding them through the playoff versus Nigeria, but after the success they enjoyed in 2006 and 2010, simply making up the numbers will not be an acceptable outcome.
While still currently working as a talent coach for Borussia Dortmund, where he spent six years as a player, Addo clearly has the knowhow to put together a strong lineup of capable footballers, but whether he has the managerial ability to get the best out of them is still unknown.
Having also spent time as an assistant at club and international level, Addo will be keen to show his pedigree in his first role as a manager in his first major tournament.
Placing so much confidence in inexperienced youth could go either way, especially against all three opponents in their group who are littered with seasoned professionals who have been here and done it before.
WORLD CUP RECORD
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2010)
© Reuters
Having only made their World Cup debut in 2006, Ghana have certainly always been an interesting side to keep an eye on at the finals, and they were one of the stories of the 2010 finals.
After progressing with four points from their group, they faced a USA side who surprisingly won their group ahead of England.
An extra-time winner from Asamoah Gyan, who scored both of their group-stage goals, saw them become only the third African nation ever to win a World Cup knockout-round match.
Their quarter-final tie with Uruguay became one of the games of the tournament thanks to the late drama which saw Luis Suarez sent off for a handball on the line in the 121st minute, before Gyan missed from the spot.
Uruguay would go on to win in the shootout and prevent the African continent from seeing a first ever semi-finalist, a feat the region is still waiting for.
In their last appearance in 2014, they were largely disappointing, finishing bottom with just one point, but that point did come against eventual champions Germany, the only game they failed to win in the tournament.
PREDICTION
Ghana's squad does appear exciting on paper, especially with the likes of Williams and Kudus in attack, but with such a difficult group to navigate, it is tough to see Addo's side progressing - they should provide stern opposition for the big boys in Group H though.
VERDICT: Third in Group H
