Ghana’s national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, has been placed in Group D of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup, alongside former champions Angola, Colombia, and Iraq, marking a significant step up in competition. The draw, conducted by FIFA, sets the stage for an anticipated all-African meeting between Ghana and Angola when the tournament begins in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, in November. Angola, the only African nation to have achieved the coveted Amputee Football World Cup title, comes into the competition with a record of six wins and one loss, a testament to their dominance in the past. However, their 2022 final defeat to Türkiye proved a stark reminder of their challenges. Ghana, meanwhile, boasts a remarkably strong continental record, having won the African Amputee Football Championship in 2021 and the inaugural African Para Games in Accra in 2023. The Black Challenge’s recent success in Cairo in 2024 solidified their position as a force to be reckoned with, securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The provisional squad, currently comprised of 20 players, includes several members of the team currently playing in Turkey, reflecting the team’s significant involvement in the regional football scene. FIFA has announced a 24-country tournament, and the 2026 World Cup is slated to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. For Ghana, this tournament represents a return to the nation where they were expected to compete at the 2018 World Cup, but ultimately did not participate, a significant moment in the country’s football history. Eight years later, the Black Challenge is returning to Mexico as back-to-back African champions, aiming to establish themselves on the global stage with this ambitious challenge. The draw has been described by sources as a ‘tough’ grouping, with the Black Challenge facing a formidable opponent in Angola, Colombia, and Iraq, creating a compelling matchup for fans and pundits alike. The tournament is projected to draw a significant global audience, with estimates suggesting over 100,000 spectators will attend matches across the region.
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Source: TV3
