Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has called on the Black Stars to maintain unwavering concentration as they embark on their campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The team will open their Group C qualification campaign with a demanding encounter against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, September 24, before returning home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.
Queiroz issued the call for complete concentration after announcing his 24-man squad for the opening two qualifying fixtures. He stressed that Ghana must remain focused on the immediate task of securing qualification for the continental tournament while maintaining a longer-term vision for the next World Cup. The Portuguese coach told Ghana Football Association media that the priority is very clear: absolute focus on AFCON qualification, with eyes set on the 2030 World Cup.
According to Queiroz, the immediate objective requires the players to devote their full attention to the AFCON qualifying campaign, although the matches will also form part of his broader efforts to construct a competitive Ghanaian side for the future. He emphasized that the team must balance their focus between the present and the future, with the ultimate goal of building a team truly capable of honouring Ghana’s extraordinary World Cup legacy.
The Black Stars enter the qualifying campaign with a clear objective of returning to Africa’s premier international football tournament after Ghana failed to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Morocco. The absence represented a significant departure for a national team that had established a long presence at the continental competition, making the upcoming qualification campaign particularly important for Ghana.
However, Queiroz will have to manage a number of challenges as Ghana prepare for their opening fixtures. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mohammed Kudus has withdrawn from the squad and will therefore not be available for the opening qualifying matches. Another player, Prince Adu Kwabena, is also expected to miss the fixtures after sustaining a head injury during the weekend.
The opening encounter in Bouaké is scheduled for September 24, with Ghana then welcoming The Gambia to the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27. The two competitive fixtures will subsequently be followed by another significant international assignment when Ghana face Morocco in a friendly at the Grand Stade de Tanger on October 4.
For Ghana, however, the immediate priority remains qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars must navigate their Group C fixtures effectively if they are to secure a place at the continental tournament and avoid another absence after missing the 2025 edition. Queiroz has made it clear that his plans extend beyond the immediate qualifying campaign, with the goal of constructing a team that can eventually compete at the 2030 World Cup.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars face a challenging start to their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
- Coach Carlos Queiroz emphasizes the need for absolute focus on both present and future goals.
- The team aims to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the 2025 edition.
