Ghana begins their quest for their CAF Africa Cup of Nations title campaign against Cape Verde in Group B on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
The encounter marks their second meeting at the AFCON, with Ghana securing a 2-0 victory in the 2013 quarter-finals.
Ghana boasts a rich AFCON history, making their 24th appearance, second only to Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire. Despite early successes, the Black Stars aim to revive their glory days, having not clinched the title in their last 16 appearances.
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde, in their fourth AFCON appearance since 2013, seeks to make an impact. Although they’ve never won in the knockout phase, their resilience in the group stages, with only one loss in nine matches, showcases their potential.
Cape Verde’s opening match record remains unblemished, with one win and two draws. Their defensive prowess is evident, with only one of their previous 11 AFCON games producing more than two goals.
Ghana’s skipper, André Ayew could make history with his eighth AFCON appearance, equaling legends Rigobert Song and Ahmed Hassan. If he scores, he’ll set a new record by finding the net in seven different AFCON tournaments.
As the teams clash in this Group B opener, both Ghana and Cape Verde aim to set the tone for a memorable AFCON campaign.