Mexico 2026: Black Challenge face Angola in World Cup opener

The Ghanaian national amputee football team, known as the Black Challenge, will kick off their quest for international recognition at the 2026 WAFF Amputee Football World Cup. Their opening match will be against former World Cup champions Angola in a Group D fixture scheduled for Saturday, November 14, in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico.

Following their encounter with Angola, Ghana will face Colombia the next day at Santa Lucia 1, before concluding their group-stage duties against Iraq on Monday, November 16, at Santa Lucia 2. The tournament, set to take place between November 13–22, 2026, will see 24 national teams compete from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The Black Challenge aims to capitalize on their impressive continental successes to achieve success on the global stage. Group D will present a challenging prospect for the Ghanaian team, especially in their clash with Angola, who possess a rich World Cup history with a World Cup title in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022. Colombia and Iraq will also pose significant tests for Ghana as they pursue qualification for the knockout stages.

However, the Black Challenge enters the competition with an impressive track record in African amputee football. The team clinched the African Amputee Football Championship in 2021, won gold at the inaugural African Para Games in Accra in 2023, and successfully defended their continental title in Cairo in 2024, defeating Morocco 2-1 in the final.

Ghana's victory secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup and further solidified the team's position as one of Africa's top forces in the sport.