On 19 March 1982, in front of a packed crowd at the Stade du 11 Juin in Tripoli, Libya, the Black Stars etched their names into African football history by lifting their fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and, as of 2026, their most recent continental crown.

The 13th edition of the 1982 African Cup of Nations had seen eight of the continent’s finest sides battle for supremacy.

Ghana navigated the tournament with resilience, setting up a final clash against hosts Libya on March 19.

Ghana burst into the lead in the 35th minute through veteran striker George Alhassan, only for Libyan forward Ali Al Beshari to equalise before halftime.

The tense encounter remained deadlocked at 1–1 after extra time, pushing the title decider into a nerve shredding penalty shootout, a format still rare in AFCON finals at the time.

Why Ghana’s 1982 AFCON trophy was handed over in a hotel room

In the shootout, both sides traded successful kicks, but Ghana ultimately prevailed 7–6 on penalties, a dramatic finish that sent the Black Stars’ supporters and the wider nation into jubilant celebration.

Their goalkeeper, Owusu Mensah, turned from unsung figure to hero by making crucial saves in the shootout, helping secure the trophy.

The victory was historic not only for the scoreline but also because it marked Ghana’s fourth AFCON triumph, following titles in 1963, 1965 and 1978.

Remarkably, it remains the last time the country has won the tournament, despite later close calls in 1992, 2010 and 2015.

FKA/JE

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