The Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, will face a crucial match against the Scorpions of The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium today. The team is seeking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in their opening 2027 AFCON qualifier. The match comes at a critical time for the Black Stars, who are looking to get their qualifying campaign back on track. Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, will have to make adjustments to his team following the injury to defender Alexander Djiku.
Alexander Djiku, a key defender for the Black Stars, suffered an injury in the match against Côte d'Ivoire and has been confirmed unavailable for the match against The Gambia. His absence is a significant blow to the team, as he brings experience and stability to the defense. Djiku's return to the national team had been gradual after missing Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign due to injury. His latest setback leaves Queiroz with another defensive headache as Ghana seeks their first points of the qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars have already seen several key players ruled out of the qualifiers through injuries and fitness concerns. Captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, and Antoine Semenyo were among the notable absentees for the opening fixture, while other players have also been unavailable during the international window. Kudus, who was initially recalled after recovering from a lengthy injury lay-off, subsequently withdrew from the squad to continue his recovery to regain full fitness.
The Gambia, on the other hand, arrive in Accra with three points after beating Somalia 2-1 in their opening Group C fixture. The result gives the Scorpions an early advantage and adds importance to today's encounter. For Ghana, the immediate task is to respond to the defeat in Côte d'Ivoire and get the qualifying campaign back on track. Queiroz will have to rely on the available defensive options, including Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, and Gideon Mensah.
The coach will also have to find a way to compensate for the experience lost through Djiku's absence. His latest setback represents another twist in what has already been a challenging start to Ghana's qualification campaign. Ghana will, therefore, be seeking a strong response in front of the home supporters. The Black Stars will also be aware that another slip could increase the pressure on the team early in the four-team Group C.
The match against The Gambia is crucial for Ghana, who are looking to turn the page on the Bouaké defeat and begin their home campaign with a response. For Queiroz, replacing Djiku will be one of the key decisions before kick-off, but the larger challenge will be ensuring that Ghana overcome their growing injury problems and produce the result needed to revive their campaign.
The Gambia, having started with a victory, will be hoping to leave Accra with another positive result. Ghana, however, will enter the contest determined to secure a win and get their qualifying campaign back on track. The match is expected to be a tough encounter, and the Black Stars will need to be at their best to overcome the Scorpions.
Key points
- Alexander Djiku's injury is a significant blow to the Black Stars.
- The Gambia arrive in Accra with three points after beating Somalia 2-1 in their opening Group C fixture.
- Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, will have to make adjustments to his team following the injury to defender Alexander Djiku.
