Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Ghana’s road back to the Africa Cup of Nations begins with one of the toughest possible assignments as the Black Stars travel to Bouaké to face reigning continental champions Côte d’Ivoire in their opening Group C qualifier on Thursday, September 24.
The match at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké kicks off at 7:00pm Ghana time (19:00 GMT) and brings together two of West Africa’s biggest football nations in a fixture carrying significance well beyond the opening three points.
Both teams missed opportunities to impress at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and now enter a new AFCON qualification cycle with ambitions of returning to the continental summit.
CAF has placed Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in Group C alongside The Gambia and Somalia, with the top two teams qualifying for the 2027 tournament. The finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
A New Beginning for Ghana Under Carlos Queiroz
For Ghana, Thursday’s encounter represents the first major competitive test of Carlos Queiroz’s latest spell in charge of the Black Stars.
The experienced Portuguese coach has been tasked with rebuilding a team that failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and subsequently reached the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Queiroz has insisted that Ghana must focus on the qualification process first rather than looking too far ahead to the tournament itself.
The coach has also rejected the idea that Ghana’s injury problems should become an excuse, insisting that the players available to him have enough quality to compete.
The Black Stars arrived in Bouaké on Wednesday and are scheduled to complete their final training session at the match venue ahead of the encounter.
Ghana Hit by Major Withdrawals
Ghana’s preparations have been complicated by the absence of several important players.
Captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo are among the notable players unavailable for the opening fixture, while Alidu Seidu is also out.
Kudus had initially returned to the squad after missing the World Cup because of a lengthy hamstring injury, but his availability has since changed as Ghana manage his recovery.
Despite the setbacks, Queiroz has maintained confidence in the squad at his disposal.
There is some positive news, however.
Defender Alexander Djiku has returned, while Nathaniel Adjei, Ibrahim Osman and Ibrahim Sulemana are also back in the squad.
Two players — Jan Gyamerah and Ronald Donkor — have received their first Black Stars call-ups under Queiroz.
Côte d’Ivoire Bring Experience and New Ambition
Côte d’Ivoire enter the contest with a new coach of their own.
Hervé Renard has returned for a second spell in charge of the Elephants following Emerse Fae’s departure after the 2026 World Cup.
Renard knows what it takes to win the AFCON. He led Côte d’Ivoire to the title in 2015 and previously guided Zambia to the championship in 2012.
The French coach is now targeting another continental triumph as Côte d’Ivoire attempt to qualify for the 2027 tournament and build on their status as the 2023 African champions.
Their 2026 World Cup campaign ended at the Round of 32 stage with a defeat against Norway, but the Elephants remain one of the continent’s established football powers.
Yan Diomande Leads the New Generation
One of the biggest attractions in the Côte d’Ivoire squad is Yan Diomande, who has emerged as one of the country’s leading young talents.
The Real Madrid forward is expected to play a major role in Renard’s plans, while experienced midfielder Franck Kessié remains an important figure in the team.
Other notable players include Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré, while Manchester United winger Amad Diallo would have been another major attacking option but is unavailable through injury.
The Elephants therefore combine emerging talent with considerable international experience.
Ghana’s Experienced Core Still Offers Threat
Despite the absences, Ghana still possess players capable of changing the game.
Ernest Nuamah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Thomas-Asante and other attacking options are expected to carry much of the responsibility in the final third.
The Black Stars also have experienced players returning to the setup, giving Queiroz a mixture of youth and senior international experience.
The challenge will be converting that potential into a cohesive attacking performance against a Côte d’Ivoire side playing in front of its home supporters.
A Rivalry Filled With AFCON History
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have one of the most recognisable rivalries in African football.
Their AFCON history includes two particularly memorable finals.
Côte d’Ivoire defeated Ghana on penalties in the 1992 AFCON final, while the Elephants again prevailed on penalties in the 2015 final after a goalless 120 minutes.
Côte d’Ivoire’s most recent AFCON triumph came on home soil in 2024, when they defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
Ghana, meanwhile, remain four-time African champions but have not won the tournament since 1982.
The Black Stars also missed the 2025 AFCON after finishing bottom of their qualifying group, making qualification for the 2027 edition an important objective for the national team.
The Last Meeting Ended in a Draw
The most recent meeting between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire was a friendly in 2021 that ended 0-0.
Their competitive history has produced much higher stakes, particularly their AFCON encounters, with the two nations repeatedly meeting at important stages of the tournament.
Thursday’s fixture adds another chapter to that rivalry — this time with qualification points at stake.
Group C Takes Shape
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are joined in Group C by The Gambia and Somalia.
Following Thursday’s opening clash, Ghana will host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.
Côte d’Ivoire will travel to face Somalia in their next qualifying assignment.
The first two matchdays are being played between September 24 and October 6, with the remaining group matches scheduled for November 2026 and March 2027.
Possible Starting Line-ups
Côte d’Ivoire
Yahia Fofana; Guéla Doué, Ousmane Diomande, Kossounou, Konan; Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Inao; Nicolas Pépé, Thierno Barry, Yan Diomande.
Ghana
Benjamin Asare; Kojo Oppong Peprah, Alexander Djiku, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah; Caleb Yirenkyi, Kwasi Sibo, Ronald Donkor; Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Ernest Nuamah.
These are projected line-ups and may change when the official teams are announced.
Match Details
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire vs 🇬🇭 Ghana
Competition: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier — Group C
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Kick-off: 7:00pm GMT
Venue: Stade de la Paix, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana’s next match: Ghana vs The Gambia — September 29, Accra Sports Stadium
African360 Analysis
This is more than just an opening qualifier.
For Ghana, it is the beginning of an attempt to restore the Black Stars’ place among Africa’s leading national teams after missing the previous AFCON tournament.
For Côte d’Ivoire, it is an opportunity for Renard to begin his second spell with a strong competitive result and establish the foundation for another AFCON campaign.
The circumstances favour neither side completely. Côte d’Ivoire have home advantage and a strong core of established players, while Ghana are dealing with several important withdrawals but are beginning a new chapter under Queiroz.
The result will not determine the group, but the opening fixture could provide an early indication of how both teams are adapting to new coaching regimes and different expectations.
For the Black Stars, the immediate objective is straightforward: start the qualification campaign strongly and leave Bouaké with something to build on.
Follow the Afrcan360 Sports channel for more sports updates on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCZkljKQuJTjRq4HZ0W
