Ghana's Black Stars head coach, Carlos Queiroz, has emphasized that beating Ivory Coast is his team's immediate priority as they begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The four-time African champions will open Group C with a challenging away match against Côte d'Ivoire at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on September 24. This will be followed by a home game against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.
Queiroz's side is seeking a return to the AFCON after missing out on qualification for the 2025 tournament. He stressed that his team cannot afford to look beyond their opening fixture against Ivory Coast. According to Queiroz, the most important goal at this moment is to win the next game. He likened the process to climbing a building, stating that one cannot be at the top without taking the necessary steps, and the first step for Ghana is to win against Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars have been boosted by the addition of nine new players to the squad due to injury concerns involving Mohammed Kudus and Nathaniel Adjei. Thomas Partey was not selected because of a hamstring problem. The new defensive reinforcements include Jonas Adjetey from VfL Wolfsburg, Alidu Seidu from OGC Nice, Ebenezer Annan from Rapid Bucharest, and Rockson Yeboah from Osasuna.
In addition to the defensive additions, midfielder Rahim Ibrahim from Slovan Bratislava has also been drafted into the squad. The attacking lineup has been strengthened with the inclusion of Brandon Thomas-Asante from Coventry City, Mohammed Fuseini from Derby County, Benjamin Tetteh from Kalba, and Felix Afena-Gyan from Igdir FK. These new call-ups are expected to bring fresh energy to the team as they face the challenging qualifiers.
Ghana's matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia are crucial for their qualification hopes. The team will conclude the international window with a friendly against Morocco at the Grand Stade de Tanger on October 4. This friendly match will provide an opportunity for Queiroz to assess his team's performance and make further adjustments before the next set of qualifiers.
Carlos Queiroz's focus on the present match against Ivory Coast reflects his pragmatic approach to the qualifiers. By concentrating on one game at a time, he aims to build a strong foundation for Ghana's campaign. The team's ability to secure a positive result in the away match against Ivory Coast will be a significant step towards achieving their goal of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON.
The upcoming matches will be a test of Ghana's resolve and quality as they seek to make a strong impression in the qualifiers. With the addition of new players and Queiroz's tactical approach, the Black Stars are expected to be competitive against Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The team's performance in these matches will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz emphasizes the importance of beating Ivory Coast in Ghana's 2027 AFCON qualifier.
- Ghana has added nine new players to the squad due to injury concerns.
- The Black Stars will conclude the international window with a friendly against Morocco on October 4.
