By Kwame Bediako
Ghana have been drawn into a tough 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification group alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia, setting up what many see as a redemption journey after their failure to reach the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
The 48‑nation qualifiers are split into 12 groups of four, with only the top two from each group advancing to the finals hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Tough path and key rivals
The main challenge for the Black Stars will come from Ivory Coast and The Gambia, with Somalia expected to be the group underdogs. Ivory Coast arrive with strong momentum, having won AFCON 2024, and are considered one of Africa’s most complete sides, blending experienced stars with emerging talents under coach Emerse Faé.
The Gambia (the Scorpions) have built a reputation for disciplined, compact defending and dangerous counters, positioning them as a deceptively difficult opponent for Ghana’s still‑inconsistent team.
Importance of the fixtures
The Ghana–Ivory Coast ties are likely to be the group‑defining matches, with position at the top often hinging on the head‑to‑head results between the two West African rivals.
Games against Somalia may offer Ghana a chance to boost their goal difference, but the Black Stars cannot afford complacency, as upsets can be decisive in tight AFCON qualifiers.
Broader context for the Black Stars
AFCON 2027 qualification is framed as more than just a return to the tournament; it is about restoring national pride and rebuilding confidence after recent failures, including slipping into Pot 2 for the draw.
For Ghana, success in this group would signal a return to the continent’s elite and set the tone for the Black Stars’ wider rebuilding project ahead of future World Cup and AFCON campaigns.
