Does Ghana Have Any Hope At The 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Over a decade on from that fateful evening in Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, Ghana are out for revenge. That’s because they will meet Uruguay for the first time since the hand of Luis Suarez sent the West Africans crashing out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

They’ve been drawn against the South Americans in Group H, as well as South Korea and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, who may be making his final appearance at football’s biggest party.

Online bookmakers such as Coral, who provide betting and free offers on the World Cup, have made Brazil and France the early favourites to lift the trophy in Qatar. But will the Black Stars impress in their return to the global stage after eight years away? 

Seeking redemption 

How can anyone forget Ghana’s last meeting with the Uruguayans? The two-time world champions were spearheaded by Diego Forlan, who had the infamous Jabulani ball under his spell. He had already scored his side's equaliser from 30 yards, cancelling out Sulley Muntari’s sensational opener.

Then, deep into extra time with the Africans well on top, it happened. A 120th-minute free-kick caused chaos in Le Celeste’s penalty area. Dominic Adiyiah nodded goalwards, beating the goalkeeper but not Suarez, who deliberately batted the ball away. He received a straight red card only for Asamoah Gyan, his nation's record goalscorer, to sky the resulting penalty.

It was the last kick of the game, with the referee blowing the final whistle before the ball had even come back down to earth. Suarez ran off celebrating down the tunnel like a criminal who had just gotten away with murder, and his teammates kept their nerve in the shootout, stopping Ghana from becoming the first African semifinalist in the history of the World Cup. 

The world looked on with disbelief. Even the neutrals knew that the defeated side had been cheated out of a final four berth, on their home continent nonetheless. But twelve years on, the Black Stars finally get their chance to seek redemption.