The Black Stars, Ghana’s national football team, have faced a persistent goal-scoring problem since at least 2022, a challenge that has been evident across multiple tournaments and qualifiers.
This analysis will explore the issue based on their performances in 2022 and beyond, drawing from available insights into their struggles and occasional breakthroughs in most recent games.
In 2022, the Black Stars’ goal-scoring woes were notably highlighted during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Despite qualifying for the tournament with a dramatic playoff win over Nigeria in March 2022, their performance in the group stage underscored their attacking deficiencies.
Ghana managed to score five goals across three matches: two in a 3-2 loss to Portugal, three in a 3-2 win over South Korea, and none in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay.
While five goals might seem reasonable, their inability to convert chances consistently—coupled with defensive lapses—meant they exited at the group stage. The reliance on moments of individual brilliance, such as Mohammed Kudus’ brace against South Korea, rather than a cohesive attacking strategy, pointed to a deeper issue.
Since the departure of Asamoah Gyan, Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, in 2019, the team has lacked a prolific, dependable striker.
Players like Inaki Williams, who debuted in 2022, showed promise but failed to score at the World Cup despite a decent tournament.
The problem persisted beyond the World Cup into subsequent years, offering further context. In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, Ghana scored only three goals in six matches, finishing bottom of their group with a mere three points.
This dismal return contributed to their failure to qualify for the 2025 tournament, a stark contrast to their historical success as four-time African champions. Matches like the 2-1 loss to Niger in November 2024, where Kudus missed a late penalty, exemplified their struggle to capitalize on opportunities.
Earlier, in the 2021 AFCON (held in 2022 due to delays), Ghana’s attacking woes were evident as they managed no win in their last in three games at the tournament scoring just three, crashing out in the group stage with a notable loss to Comoros.
Several factors have contributed to this goal-scoring drought since 2022. First, the absence of a natural finisher has been a recurring theme. Post-Gyan, strikers like Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams, and others have been experimented with, but none have consistently delivered.
Maxwell Boakye, a former Hearts of Oak striker, claimed in December 2022 that he could solve this issue if given a chance, pointing to his ten goals in 19 games for Ferroviaro de Maputo that season.
Second, the team’s playstyle under various coaches—CK Akonnor in 2021, Otto Addo in 2022, and Chris Hughton later—has often lacked sharpness in the final third. Akonnor, for instance, insisted in 2021 that the team created chances but failed to convert them, a sentiment echoed in their 2022 performances.
The Black Stars’ goal-scoring problem since 2022 reflects a combination of personnel issues, tactical inconsistencies, and a failure to adapt after losing key figures like Gyan.
Despite this, there have been glimmers of hope. In a 2026 World Cup qualifier on March 21, 2025, Ghana thrashed Chad 5-0, with goals from Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, and Ernest Nuamah.
Semenyo remarked post-match that the team had goal-scorers who simply needed to be in the right positions, suggesting that confidence and tactical adjustments could unlock their potential.
This performance, however, stands as an outlier against a weaker opponent, contrasting with their struggles against stronger sides or in high-stakes games.
Ghana on Monday, recorded 3-0 victory against Madagascar in Morocco to not only top their qualifying group but also increased their goal tally to eight in the last two outings.
While players like Thomas Partey, Kudus and Semenyo show promise, and occasional high-scoring games hint at capability, the team’s inability to sustain attacking output has cost them dearly in major competitions and can this high-scoring rate be the turning point for Ghana’s attacking prowess?
