Detailed analysis of the history behind African countries on Matchday 2 at the World Cup and the impact on Ghana vs South Korea —

Ghana’s Black Stars will face South Korea on Matchday 2 in Group H at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan with hopes high for the West African side.

The four-time African champions have played 3 previous matchday 2 games at the FIFA World Cup, winning 1 and drawing twice – 2006 (2-0 against the Czech Republic), 2010 (1-1 against Australia), and 2014 (2-2 against Germany).

Ghana will play the 46th game of Matchday 2 at the FIFA World Cup when they take on South Korea at 13:00 GMT. Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions have a 10:00 GMT kick-off on Monday.

In 44 previous Matchday 2, games for African countries at the Mundial, 24 defeats have been recorded including Tunisia’s 1-0 loss to Australia in the 2022 edition.

Cameroon became the first African country to win a matchday 2 game after edging Romania 2-1 at the Italy 1990 edition.

African countries have recorded 9 victories on matchday 2 including Senegal’s 3-1 win over Qatar in the 2022 edition.

Nigeria have won the highest number of Matchday 2 games (3) – 1998 (Nigeria 1-0 Bulgaria), 2014 (Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina), and 2018 (Nigeria 2-0 Iceland).

South Korea, Ghana’s opponent on Monday, suffered a 4-2 to Algeria on Matchday 2 during the 2014 edition in Brazil.

Ghana have scored 5 Matchday 2 goals and conceded 3.

Africa didn’t score a matchday 2 goal until the 1990 edition.

African countries have conceded 64 goals on Matchday 2 and scored 36 goals in 44 games.

Below are the details of Matchday 2 games played by African countries at the World Cup.

• 1970 – Mexico
  Peru 3-0 Morocco

1974 – West Germany
Yugoslavia 9-0 Dr Conogo (Zaire)

• 1978 – Argentina
  Poland 1-0 Tunisia

1982 – Spain
Poland 0-0 Cameroon
Algeria 0-2 Austria

• 1986 – Mexico
  Brazil 1-0 Algeria
  England 0-0 Morocco

1990 – Italy
Cameroon 2-1 Romania
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Egypt

• 1994 – USA
  Brazil 3-0 Cameroon
  Argentina 2-1 Nigeria
  Saudi Arabia 2-1 Morocco

1998 – France
Brazil 3-0 Morocco
Italy 3-0 Cameroon
South Africa 1-1 Denmark
Nigeria 1-0 Bulgaria
Colombia 1-0 Tunisia

• 2002 – Japan/Korea
  Denmark 1-1 Senegal
  South Africa 1-0 Slovenia
  Cameroon 1-0 Saudi Arabia
  Sweden 2-1 Nigeria
  Tunisia 1-1 Belgium

2006 – Germany
Netherlands 2-1 Ivory Coast
Mexico 0-0 Angola
Czech Republic 0-2 Ghana
Togo 0-2 Switzerland
Spain 3-1 Tunisia

• 2010 – South Africa
  South Africa 0-3 Uruguay
  Greece 2-1 Nigeria
  England 0-0 Algeria
  Ghana 1-1 Australia
  Cameroon 1-2 Denmark

2014 – Brazil
Cameroon 0-4 Croatia
Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast
Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Germany 2-2 Ghana
South Korea 2-4 Algeria

• 2018 – Russia
  Russia 3-1 Egypt
  Portugal 1-0 Morocco
  Nigeria 2-0 Iceland
  Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
  Japan 2-2 Senegal

2022 – Qatar
Qatar 1-3 Senegal
Tunisia 0-1 Australia