Nine finals in all — only Egypt have played more — but the last three have gone the other way. Côte d’Ivoire won the 1992 final 11–10 on penalties, Egypt won the 2010 final 1–0, and in 2015 Ghana led the shoot-out against Côte d’Ivoire 2–0, only for their goalkeeper Razak Braimah to fail with the 21st kick and his opposite number, Boubacar Barry, to score the 22nd. André Ayew played through eight tournaments of that era, from 2008 to 2023 — a joint record.
The last cycle was the hardest in decades. Ghana went out in the group stage in 2021 and 2023, then finished bottom of their qualifying group for Morocco 2025 without a win. Carlos Queiroz, appointed in April 2026, led them at the World Cup that summer: a stoppage-time win over Panama and a draw with England, then defeats by Croatia and, in the round of 32, Colombia.
Queiroz was reappointed in September for the road to East Africa, and it starts in the hardest place available: Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on 24 September 2026. Group C also includes The Gambia, who visit Accra on 29 September, and Somalia. The top two qualify for the finals.