The Black Stars have been nominated for the Men’s National Team of the Year award at the 2026 CAF Awards following their return to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup.
Ghana are among 10 countries shortlisted for the prestigious honour, alongside Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
The nomination comes after a memorable World Cup campaign in North America, where the Black Stars reached the Round of 32 for the first time since 2010.
Ghana opened their Group L campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw in a disciplined performance that earned them four points from their opening two matches.
Carlos Queiroz’s side subsequently lost 2-1 to Croatia, with Derrick Luckassen scoring Ghana’s equaliser, but still progressed to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
Their campaign ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in Kansas City, where Jhon Arias scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute.
Despite their elimination, Ghana’s return to the knockout stage represented a significant improvement on their group-stage exits at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups.
The Black Stars finished 24th in the final standings, their best placement since reaching the quarter-finals in South Africa 2010.
The nomination provides recognition for Ghana’s progress on the international stage during the year under review, although the team will be seeking greater consistency as they prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled for 7th December in Lagos, Nigeria, where Africa’s outstanding footballers, coaches and teams will be honoured.
