The Black Stars of Ghana conducted a full training session at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 28, 2026, with all players reporting fit. This development eases concerns over injuries, particularly after defender Alexander Djiku was ruled out of the team's previous match. The training session included warm-ups, short passing drills, and ground stretching exercises supervised by the technical team. Goalkeepers Benjamin Asare and Lawrence Ati-Zigi had separate sessions under goalkeeper coach Daniel Gaspar.
According to goalkeeper coach Daniel Gaspar, the team is fortunate to have three outstanding goalkeepers, describing the group as arguably the best on the continent based on their recent form. Gaspar expressed confidence in the team's shot-stoppers and emphasized the technical team's focus on achieving success for Ghanaian fans. His comments came after a turbulent week for the Black Stars camp, which saw defender Alexander Djiku withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
The Black Stars are currently at the bottom of Group C with zero points, level with Somalia, after a disappointing opening defeat to Côte d'Ivoire. Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia top the group with three points each, making Tuesday's match against Gambia a do-or-die situation for Ghana. A loss or draw would severely jeopardize the Black Stars' hopes of qualifying for AFCON 2027. Ghanaian football fans are eager for a positive result to ease growing frustration over the team's start to the campaign.
The team's training session on Monday was a significant development, especially considering the anxious build-up in the days leading up to the camp's opening. All players in camp turned out for the session, which was supervised by members of the technical team. The session provided a much-needed boost to the team's morale and preparedness ahead of the crucial match against Gambia.
Ghana's president of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, had to defend the squad amid the injury withdrawal storm, while musician Black Sherif publicly called for a reshuffle after Ghana's disappointing start to the campaign. The pressure on the team has been mounting, and a positive result against Gambia would help alleviate some of that pressure and provide a much-needed boost to the team's confidence.
The Black Stars are set to face Gambia in the AFCON 2027 qualifier on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. No further details on team selection or lineup changes have been made public ahead of kickoff. The team's technical team is expected to make key decisions on the lineup and strategy to ensure a positive result against Gambia.
A positive result against Gambia would not only ease frustration over the team's start to the campaign but also offer some breathing room in the qualifying race. The match is crucial for Ghana's chances of qualifying for AFCON 2027, and the team will be looking to make a strong statement against Gambia.
Key points
- The Black Stars trained with a full squad on Monday, easing concerns over injuries ahead of the match against Gambia.
- Ghana is currently at the bottom of Group C with zero points, level with Somalia, after a disappointing opening defeat to Côte d'Ivoire.
- A loss or draw against Gambia would severely jeopardize the Black Stars' hopes of qualifying for AFCON 2027.
