Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, are facing an uphill battle in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers after losing their first two matches. The team suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia, leaving them with no points and a goal difference of -4. The Black Stars are currently at the bottom of Group C, six points behind the group leaders. The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, left his position after the September international window, and the Ghana Football Association has appointed an interim technical team led by Kim Lars Björkegren.
The loss to The Gambia was particularly disappointing for Ghana, as they had taken a 2-0 lead by the 33rd minute. However, the team's defensive problems became apparent as they conceded two goals within nine minutes, and the visitors eventually won 4-2. Despite having 74% possession and 13 shots, Ghana's defense was unable to withstand The Gambia's attacks, and the team's inability to protect their lead was a major concern. The match highlighted the need for Ghana to improve their defensive structure and prevent lapses in concentration.
Group C has already split into two halves, with Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia leading the way with six points each. Ghana and Somalia have lost both their matches, and the Ocean Stars will provide a stern test for the Black Stars in their upcoming fixtures. Somalia lost 2-1 to The Gambia and 2-0 to Côte d'Ivoire, but their results offer no guarantee that Ghana will recover easily. The top two teams in Group C will advance to the 2027 finals, and Ghana's next two fixtures against Somalia are crucial in their bid to qualify.
Kim Lars Björkegren has been appointed as the head of the interim Black Stars technical team, and he will work alongside assistant coaches Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram. Björkegren is also the head coach of Ghana's women's national team, the Black Queens, and has previous coaching experience in the United States, Sweden, and Cyprus. His immediate concern will be to improve Ghana's defensive structure and prevent the kind of lapses that cost them against The Gambia.
Ghana's defensive problems were highlighted by their inability to protect their lead against The Gambia. The team conceded twice within five minutes, and later allowed a substitute to score twice. Preventing such lapses will require better communication between midfield and defense, particularly when possession changes unexpectedly. Björkegren will need to work on this aspect of the team's game if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the 2027 finals.
Ghana are not the only national team entering November under pressure, as Ethiopia have also lost their opening two AFCON qualifiers. However, Ethiopia have conceded only two goals compared to Ghana's six, and the two teams have different problems to address. Ghana have demonstrated that they can score against competitive opposition, but their failure has been protecting an advantage. Ethiopia's opening results suggest a different problem: remaining competitive in low-scoring matches without finding a goal.
The November double-header against Somalia will provide a stern test for Ghana, and the team must balance the need to attack with a stronger defensive structure. Against opponents expected to defend in numbers, possession alone will not be sufficient, and quick movement around the penalty area could help create chances. The matches will be played within the FIFA international window of November 9-17, 2026, and will be crucial in determining Ghana's chances of qualifying for the 2027 finals.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars are at the bottom of Group C in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers with zero points after two matches.
- The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, left his position after the September international window, and the Ghana Football Association has appointed an interim technical team led by Kim Lars Björkegren.
- Ghana's next two fixtures are against Somalia, and the team must collect points and repair a defense that has already conceded six goals.
