Ghana's World Cup knockout run has put the Black Stars on the CAF shortlist, even as shaky AFCON qualifying form fuels debate.
Ghana's Black Stars are on the continental stage again. They have been nominated for Men's National Team of the Year at the 2027 CAF Awards, rewarded for a 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in North America that carried them into the knockout rounds. They are one of 10 African sides on the shortlist.
The road out of the group was anything but easy. Ghana were drawn alongside England, Croatia and Panama, and they started brightly with a win over Panama. They then held England to a draw, finishing the group stage with four points from three games. A loss to Croatia in the last match meant the Black Stars had to wait on the final standings, but they did enough to book their place in the next round.
The run ended there, with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia. Even so, getting out of a group that tough is what put Ghana in the CAF conversation.
The nomination may still spark some debate back home. The Black Stars have had a rocky start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with defeats including one to Côte d'Ivoire. For some observers, that sits awkwardly beside an award built on World Cup success. Either way, Ghana's name is on the list, and the Black Stars will be hoping to turn that recognition into momentum.
