Ghana’s Black Stars will begin their campaign for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Côte d’Ivoire in a highly anticipated Group C encounter at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké today, Thursday.
The match, scheduled for 7pm Ghana time, brings together two former African champions in what is expected to be a demanding opening fixture for both sides.
Ghana are hoping to make a positive start to the qualification campaign after missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Black Stars will therefore be eager to collect points from their opening away fixture and establish a strong foundation for the matches that follow.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz has faced a number of challenges in preparing his squad for the encounter, with injuries, fitness concerns and other circumstances forcing changes to his original selection.
Several established players are unavailable, putting greater responsibility on the remaining members of the squad and the new players brought in to strengthen the team.
Queiroz will now have to depend on the depth of his squad as Ghana attempt to negotiate what could be one of the most difficult assignments in their qualifying group.
The Portuguese coach has stressed the importance of match fitness and discipline as he works to build a competitive Black Stars side.
For Ghana, the challenge will not only be about dealing with Côte d’Ivoire’s attacking threat but also about remaining organised throughout the contest and making the most of scoring opportunities.
The Black Stars are expected to face pressure from the home side, particularly with the Ivorian supporters behind their team.
Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, are entering the qualifiers under returning head coach Hervé Renard, who has already begun reshaping the squad ahead of the campaign.
Renard has included eight new players in his 25-man squad as he seeks to introduce fresh options while preparing the Elephants for the demands of the qualification series.
The Ivorians will also be determined to make home advantage count and begin their campaign with a victory.
The encounter has attracted considerable attention because of the history and stature of the two nations in African football.
Both Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have won the Africa Cup of Nations in the past and have regularly produced competitive teams capable of challenging at the continental level.
However, past achievements will have little bearing on the outcome of Thursday’s fixture, with both teams starting the new qualification campaign from the same point.
For Ghana, an away result in Bouaké would provide an important early boost before the Black Stars return home for their second Group C fixture against The Gambia.
That match is scheduled for September 29 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Gambia, meanwhile, will begin their own campaign against Somalia on Friday, meaning Ghana will know the outcome of that fixture before facing the Gambians in Accra.
The Group C qualification race will be decided over six matches for each team, making every point important.
The top two teams in groups without a co-host will secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
That qualification format means Ghana cannot afford to lose momentum at the beginning of the campaign.
The Black Stars will therefore be hoping to produce a disciplined performance in Bouaké and avoid conceding unnecessary goals while remaining dangerous on the counter and during set-piece situations.
The absence of several key players has added another layer of difficulty to the assignment, but the situation also provides an opportunity for the available players to establish themselves and contribute to the national team.
The likes of Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan and Jonas Adjetey have been brought into the squad following the withdrawals, while Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have received senior national team invitations.
Their involvement could provide Queiroz with additional options as he looks to manage the squad through the opening fixtures.
Ghana’s preparations have also been shaped by the need to balance immediate results with the longer-term development of the team.
The Black Stars are expected to continue their preparations after the qualifiers with an international friendly against Morocco in Tangier on October 4.
The friendly will give Queiroz another opportunity to assess his squad and work on his plans for the remainder of the qualification campaign.
The immediate focus, however, remains firmly on Côte d’Ivoire.
A strong performance in Bouaké could give Ghana valuable momentum ahead of the home meeting with The Gambia, while a difficult result would increase the importance of collecting maximum points in subsequent fixtures.
With both teams eager to begin the qualification journey positively, the Stade de la Paix is set to provide the stage for an important West African contest.
Queiroz and his players will need to combine tactical discipline, concentration and efficiency in front of goal if Ghana are to achieve the result they are targeting.
The Black Stars’ AFCON 2027 qualification journey begins in Bouaké, with Ghana hoping to return from Côte d’Ivoire with points that can provide a solid foundation for the campaign ahead.
