Ghana News
Ghana begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, with Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and several other key players unavailable.
Carlos Queiroz’s rebuilding project with the Black Stars faces its first major competitive test when Ghana take on Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The match begins a demanding international window for Ghana, who will return home to face The Gambia in Accra on September 29 before playing Morocco in a friendly on October 4.
Queiroz, who recently received a new two-year contract, is tasked with guiding Ghana back to the AFCON after the Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 tournament.
However, Ghana will enter Thursday’s clash without several established players. Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Elisha Owusu, Abdul Mumin, Prince Adu Kwabena and Nathaniel Adjei are among those unavailable through injuries and withdrawals.
Their absences have led to late call-ups for Brandon Thomas-Asante, Alidu Seidu, Jonas Adjetey and Mohammed Fuseini.
Queiroz will rely on players including captain Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Caleb Yirenkyi, Gideon Mensah and Alexander Djiku as Ghana seek a positive start to their qualification campaign.
Côte d’Ivoire have also named a strong squad featuring Franck Kessié, Malick Yalcouyé, Yan Diomande, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Nicolas Pépé and Bazoumana Touré.
The fixture carries significant historical importance, with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire having met 36 times. Ghana have recorded 13 wins, while five meetings have gone in favour of the Ivorians and 18 have ended in draws.
The two countries have also contested two AFCON finals, with Côte d’Ivoire winning both the 1992 and 2015 finals on penalties.
For Queiroz, however, the focus is on building a team capable of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON while laying the foundation for Ghana’s longer-term ambitions.
The coach has defended his tactical approach and said results, rather than style, ultimately determine a coach’s success.
The match in Bouaké will therefore provide an early indication of how Ghana’s reshaped squad performs against one of Africa’s leading national teams.
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