Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, will face The Gambia in a critical 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29. The match comes after Ghana's 2-0 opening defeat to Côte d'Ivoire, while The Gambia secured a 2-1 win over Somalia in their first group match. Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, is under pressure to secure a win and keep his team's qualifying hopes alive.
The Black Stars are expected to make changes to their lineup following the unconvincing display against Côte d'Ivoire, with several players withdrawn due to injuries. Lawrence Ati-Zigi is set to continue in goal, with Jonas Adjetey replacing the injured Alexander Djiku in the back four. In midfield, Augustine Boakye is likely to start after his impressive cameo against the Ivorians, alongside Kwesi Sibo and Ibrahim Sulemana.
Ghana's recent form has been uncertain, with one win, one draw, and three defeats in their last five matches. The team has struggled against top opponents, losing to Colombia, Croatia, and Côte d'Ivoire. In contrast, The Gambia's recent record is mixed, but they showed their capacity to perform well with a 7-0 victory over Seychelles.
Coach Carlos Queiroz emphasized the importance of possession and a positive mindset in the pre-match presser, stating that Ghana needs to have the ball, recover it quickly, and play with a positive mind to score goals. A second consecutive defeat would put Ghana in a precarious position within Group C, while a win would keep their qualification prospects alive.
The Gambia's coach, Johnathan McKinstry, has every incentive to frustrate the hosts and extend his team's positive start. A result in Accra would put The Gambia in a commanding position in the group and significantly weaken Ghana's qualification prospects. The match will be broadcast live on free-to-air channels, including GTV Ghana, GTV Sports+, TV3, and Onua TV.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 PM Ghana time at the Accra Sports Stadium. Coach Queiroz has urged fans to stay calm, assuring them that the team's poor form can be fixed. He also shared a message with supporters planning to attend the match, encouraging them to come out and support the team.
The author of the article, Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe, is a CAF-accredited journalist with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He has covered several high-profile events, including the 2023 AFCON and grassroots competitions within Ghana.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars must win against The Gambia to keep their AFCON 2027 qualifying hopes alive.
- The match will be broadcast live on free-to-air channels, including GTV Ghana and TV3.
- Coach Carlos Queiroz has urged fans to stay calm and assured them that the team's poor form can be fixed.
