The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi as the venue for the Black Stars’ crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Somalia.
GFA President Kurt Okraku announced the decision during a meeting between the Association’s Executive Council and Parliament’s Select Committee on Sports on Wednesday, November 4.
The Black Stars will welcome Somalia to the Essipong Stadium on Thursday, November 12, in the first of two consecutive AFCON qualifying meetings between the two nations.
The fixture has become a must-win encounter for Ghana after a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign. The four-time African champions opened with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké before suffering a shock 4-2 home loss to The Gambia, leaving them rooted to the bottom of Group C without a point.
Those results led to the departure of head coach Carlos Queiroz, with an interim technical team led by Kim Lars Björkegren now tasked with reviving Ghana’s qualification hopes.
Victory over Somalia is expected to be crucial if the Black Stars are to keep alive their ambitions of reaching the 2027 AFCON, especially after missing out on qualification for the 2025 edition in Morocco.
Following the first encounter in Sekondi, Ghana and Somalia will meet again on Monday, November 16 in the reverse fixture, with another three valuable points at stake.
The Black Stars will be aiming to make home advantage count at the Essipong Stadium as they seek to reignite their campaign and move back into contention for a place at the continental tournament.
