Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has arrived in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the host nation on Thursday. The team began preparations in Accra on Monday, with their first training session held at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Black Stars completed their work in the capital on Tuesday evening, under the watchful eye of head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The Black Stars held their final training session in Accra on Tuesday, with 18 players taking part, according to the Ghana Football Association (GFA). However, it is unclear how many squad members have joined the team in Ivory Coast ahead of the Group C encounter. The team is set to hold their final training session at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Wednesday evening, just 24 hours before the match.
Ghana will be without several key players for the opening qualifier due to injury or personal reasons. Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei, and Alidu Seidu are all unavailable for selection. In response, Queiroz has made changes to his squad, calling up Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Jonas Adjetey.
The updated squad also includes two new faces: Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim, who have received their first senior call-ups. The Black Stars are seeking to return to the continental tournament after failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. This failure ended Ghana's run of over two decades of consecutive appearances at the tournament.
Following the match against Ivory Coast, Ghana will return home to face Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later. The four-time African champions will then round off the international window with a friendly against Morocco in Tangier on 4 October. These matches are part of the team's preparations for the remainder of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars' match against Ivory Coast marks the beginning of their qualifying campaign. Ghana is looking to make a strong start and build momentum for the rest of the campaign. The team's performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as they seek to return to the continental stage.
The 2027 AFCON qualifiers are an important milestone for Ghana's national team, and the Black Stars will be eager to make a positive impact. With a new squad and a fresh approach under Carlos Queiroz, the team will look to overcome the challenges ahead and secure a successful campaign.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars arrive in Bouaké for 2027 AFCON qualifier against Ivory Coast
- The team will be without several key players due to injury or personal reasons
- Ghana faces Gambia and Morocco in upcoming international friendlies
