Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, will face Côte d'Ivoire in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday in Bouaké. This match marks the beginning of a potentially defining 16-day international window for the team, with two more matches scheduled against The Gambia and Morocco. These fixtures offer coach Carlos Queiroz a valuable block of competitive and high-level preparation time to impose his ideas on a team still searching for stability.
The match against Côte d'Ivoire comes at a critical time for Queiroz, who was handed a new two-year contract earlier this month. Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, their first absence from the continental championship since 2004. Thursday's match represents Queiroz's first competitive assignment against African opposition since his long-term future was confirmed. His task is to secure qualification while constructing a team capable of restoring Ghana's continental authority and sustaining the country's World Cup pedigree.
Queiroz has emphasized that his priority is to focus on AFCON qualification while building a team for the 2030 World Cup. He aims to create a team that honors Ghana's extraordinary World Cup legacy. However, the team has encountered turbulence with several established players, including Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Elisha Owusu, withdrawing due to injuries. Late call-ups have been made for Brandon Thomas-Asante, Alidu Seidu, Jonas Adjetey, and Mohammed Fuseini to fill the gaps.
Despite the setbacks, Queiroz remains confident in the available players' ability to compete with Côte d'Ivoire. He will look to captain Jordan Ayew, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo, and others to carry the challenge in Bouaké. Côte d'Ivoire has named a 29-man squad featuring Franck Kessié, Malick Yalcouyé, and Nicolas Pépé, among others. Queiroz views the contest as a close to even proposition, acknowledging the individual quality within the Ivorian squad while maintaining confidence in Ghana's strengths.
The match also carries historical significance, with Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire having a long-standing rivalry. Ghana has won 13 of their 36 meetings, compared to five Ivorian victories, with 18 encounters ending in draws. Two of Côte d'Ivoire's victories remain among the most painful in Black Stars history, including the 1992 and 2015 AFCON finals. Hervé Renard, who masterminded the 2015 triumph, is back in the Ivorian technical set-up, adding further intrigue to the fixture.
Queiroz's approach has faced scrutiny, particularly during the World Cup, where Ghana reached the Round of 32 but drew criticism for their defensive style. However, Queiroz remains unmoved, emphasizing that winning makes the style and that coaches lose their jobs due to results, not styles. He rejects the description of his approach as defensive, instead calling it fighting for the ball to attack and score.
The new phase for the Black Stars also begins with a reshaped technical team. Former Black Stars midfielder Godwin Attram has replaced Desmond Ofei as assistant coach, with Ofei reassigned to focus on the Black Meteors. Former Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil has also moved to the Black Satellites as assistant coach. The team will look to make a strong start against Côte d'Ivoire and navigate the challenges ahead in the AFCON qualifier and beyond.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars face a crucial test against Côte d'Ivoire in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday in Bouaké.
- Coach Carlos Queiroz aims to secure qualification while building a team capable of restoring Ghana's continental authority and sustaining the country's World Cup pedigree.
- The match against Côte d'Ivoire marks Queiroz's first competitive assignment against African opposition since his long-term future was confirmed.
