In this edition of the AFCON Archives, our weekly deep dive into the history of Africa’s continental football tournament, we look back at Ghana’s triumphant teams of 1963 and 1965.
AFCON 1957 Archives: Egypt triumph, South Africa sidelined
Few were more excited by these victories than the nation’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. So what was Nkrumah’s fascination with the beautiful game?
Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, achieved independence from Britain in 1957 with Nkrumah as political leader.
When it was the Republic of Ghana declared three years later, the charismatic Pan-Africanist was named its first president. Sport, but especially football, then played a central role in a presidency that lasted until 1966, when Nkrumah’s increasingly authoritarian government was overthrown by General Ankrah.
Throughout his presidency, Nkrumah had emphasized Ghana’s leading role in a continental convergence and saw sports as an important tool in fostering this African unity.
Benjamin Koufie, former Black Star and assistant coach during the 1965 AFCON; revokes his president’s pan-African approach to sports.
“Kwame Nkrumah used football to reach across the continent, so he wanted to make sure Ghana’s Black Stars were a shining example.”
As Ghana’s first two forays into the tournament culminated in victory, these were political as well as sporting triumphs.
Back to Back
The 1963 AFCON was expanded to include six teams, whereas previous editions had three or four.
Ghana played host for their AFCON debut, with Nigeria also making their first appearance.
The rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria lives on today
The Black Stars’ campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Tunisia, followed by a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in their second and final group game.
Ethiopia then defeated Tunisia 4-2, securing Ghana’s place in the final.
Nigeria, meanwhile, have had a miserable season in Group B, having conceded ten goals in two defeats to United Arab Republic and Sudan, who advanced to the final on goal difference.
An AFCON final now awaited the debutants Black Stars.
In front of a welcoming home crowd, a brace from Edward Acquah led the Black Stars to a 3-0 win over Sudan.
Today in History On December 1, 1963, Ghana Black Stars won the AFCON for the first time by beating Sudan 3-0 in the final, held at the Accra Sports Stadium. pic.twitter.com/X9oCETh2J3
— GHANA FACTS & HISTORY (@GhanaianMuseum) December 1, 2022
Two years later, Ghana traveled to Tunisia to defend their crown.
The 1965 edition once again featured a six-nation roster, including newcomers Senegal, Congo-Leopoldville and Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars made light work of the group, scoring nine goals in two games to set up a final with the host nation.
Ghana took a first-half lead at the Stade Chedly Zouiten, but Tunisia trailed 2-1 after 67 minutes.
The Black Stars then equalized through Osei Kofi, scoring his third goal of the competition and making him top scorer.
Celebrating it #mythical Osei Kofi, b #On this day in 1942.🇬🇭
The #WizardDribbler won the Best Player Award at the 1965 Africa Cup of Nations—becoming the first Ghanaian to do so.
He was a member of the 1963 and 1965 Ghana #AFCON winning teams and won the Ghana League three times. pic.twitter.com/OVQebeYHee
— Ghana Sports History (@GSportsHistory) June 3, 2022
The final whistle called time on a 2-2 deadlock, but as extra time signaled, Ghana’s Frank Ontoi answered his call, scoring the winning goal six minutes into added time.
The double is complete. The Evening news captured the festive mood under the headline ‘1965: A Great Year for Ghanaian Sport’.
However, these victories were part of a larger story.
Just you are welcome Charles Kumi Gyamfi, coach of the 1963 team:
“It was just kicking the ball as such, but we played politics with it. Wherever we’d go and play a game and get beat up, you’d find your teammates and look them in the face and say ‘what are we doing. What shall we say to Kwame Nkrumah.”
Nkrumah’s Sporting Project
Ghana’s nickname – the Black Stars – invokes it Black Star Shipping Line through which pan-African icon Marcus Garvey challenged global economic imbalances. It was chosen by Nkrumah, marking the fusion of Pan-Africanism and sports.
In the decade after independence, this sporting vision inspired Nkrumah to spearhead several African sporting events.
By awarding the African Gold Cup to a victorious Ghana in April 1960, he underlined the pan-African underpinnings of such competitions.
“I chose and donated this cup not for its intrinsic value, but because it symbolizes the sound foundations on which we can build West African unity.”
Pan-African ideas even permeated club football, with Nkrumah establishing the African Club Championship in 1964.
His penultimate speech was summarized in a February 1965 edition of Accra’s Evening news. Once again, he highlighted the pan-African meanings of the sporting event.
Nkrumah also hoped to influence global post-colonial politics through football.
The president encouraged sports minister Ohene Djan to lead Africa’s boycott of the 1966 World Cup after FIFA awarded the continent a unique, joint qualifying spot with Asia.
He also repeatedly emphasized his desire for the national team to announce African excellence on the world stage.
In 1962, Real Madrid were invited to play the Black Stars in Ghana. To Nkrumah’s delight, Los Blancoswhich he had won five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960, they remained deadlocked at 3-3.
On its pages evening news, the president expressed his approval. “I am confident that the Black Stars have forced the football world to recognize the fact that a new football power has emerged along the west coast of Africa,” he said.
Two years later, the paper made this point even more emphatically.
“We have shaken ourselves from the adamant chains and it is our duty and our right to prove to them that the African, when given the opportunity, can rise to the occasion.”
Post-Krumach
Nkrumah’s vision of sporting excellence had been realised, but this alone could not sustain his status.
He was overthrown by General Ankrah in 1966 amid growing dissatisfaction with his regime’s authoritarian impulses.
Ghana would reach the next AFCON final in 1968. This time, second place offered confirmation of sporting decline and mismanagement. Judged by his predecessor’s standards, Ankrah was attacked for his sporting apathy.
“During the last African Cup of Nations competition, the Congolese government promised Congolese players cars… no wonder the Congolese won the cup from Ghana,” complained Evening news in July 1968.
The loss was particularly painful because it came at the hands of the Leopards of Congo-Kinshasa, a country in the midst of its own sporting rise. For more on this story, tune in next week AFCON Archives…