Ghana have not secured a final berth since 35 years ago but are hoping to do so at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations AFCON on Thursday in Gabon.
The Ghana Black Stars face Central Africa’s Cameroon in the semi-finals of AFCON at the Stade de Franceville in Franceville on Feb. 2.
Cameroon and Ghana are both four-time champions, but Cameroon last won 15 years ago and Ghana’s long wait to be champions of Africa again (now 35 years and counting) is becoming an African Cup folklore.
Cameroon beat favourites Senegal on penalties and will now face Ghana as they attempt to secure a place in the AFCON final for the first time since 2008.
Nine years ago, the Indomitable Lions were beaten by Egypt, who face Burkina Faso in this year’s other semi-finals in the showpiece and will be hoping to go one better after a 15-year wait for the African title.
The five-time winners, who will host the 2019 AFCON, face Ghana in the last four.
The Black Stars were beaten finalists two years ago, but their spell without winning the trophy goes back more than 30 years to 1982.
Ghana are in the last four for the sixth straight tournament.
En route to the semi-finals, Jordan Ayew gave Ghana the lead and elder brother, Andre Ayew swept in a 78th-minute penalty for the winner to beat Congo at Stade d’Oyem.
At 1-1, the definitive moment came when Christian Atsu sped onto a pass late on and was tripped by Lomalisa Mutambala, giving Andre Ayew his chance from the spot.
He took it, and Ghana progressed to the semi-finals for the sixth straight time.
However, that hasn’t meant much for Ghana, still looking for a first triumph since 1982.
Ghana has lost in three finals and four semi-finals since 1982, including an agonising defeat in a penalty shootout to Ivory Coast in the deciding game at the last African Cup.
The experience two years ago left Andre Ayew sobbing uncontrollably and inconsolably.
The painful memories will likely keep Ghanaian feet on the ground this year, even after getting past Congo, a tricky adversary.
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