Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has had a disappointing start to their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, losing their first two Group C matches. The team, led by coach Carlos Queiroz, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire away from home and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at home in Accra. These results have left Ghana at the bottom of the group with zero points.
The current group standings have The Gambia leading with six points, followed by Côte d'Ivoire with three points, and Somalia yet to open their account. Despite the challenging start, Ghana still has four qualifying matches to play, including direct clashes against both teams currently above them in the standings. The Black Stars' upcoming fixtures are against Somalia, Côte d'Ivoire, and The Gambia, with the latter two matches scheduled for March 2027.
Ghana's remaining matches offer a significant opportunity for the team to accumulate points and potentially secure a top-two finish in Group C. The Black Stars have 12 points available across their four remaining matches, and winning all four could lift them from zero to 12 points. This may well be enough to secure a top-two finish, depending on how results between the other sides play out.
The most important factor working in Ghana's favour is that they still face both Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia directly. Victories in those games would not only boost Ghana's own tally but would simultaneously damage their rivals' chances, making those March fixtures potentially season-defining. However, every match counts, and dropping points against Somalia in November would leave Ghana dependent on results elsewhere.
Ghana missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and is eager to return to the continental stage when the tournament is hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in 2027. The arithmetic is still in their hands, but there is very little margin for error remaining. The team's goal is to secure a top-two finish in Group C and qualify for the tournament.
Coach Carlos Queiroz's side will face Somalia in November, with the two clashes pencilled in for that month. The Black Stars will then face Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia in March 2027, which could be crucial in determining their qualification fate. The team's performance in these matches will significantly impact their chances of advancing to AFCON 2027.
Ghana's qualification campaign has got off to the worst possible start, but the Black Stars are not out of the race just yet. With a realistic path back into contention, provided they respond with maximum urgency, Ghana can still qualify for AFCON 2027. The team's focus will be on accumulating points in their remaining matches and securing a top-two finish in Group C.
Key points
- Ghana has 12 points available in their remaining four qualifying matches.
- The Black Stars still face direct clashes against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
- Ghana's qualification fate will be determined by their performance in the upcoming matches against Somalia, Côte d'Ivoire, and The Gambia.
