Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, extending their winless run to seven matches. The match was played in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, and was part of Group C, which also includes The Gambia and Somalia. This result has put Ghana's chances of qualifying for the tournament under serious pressure. The Black Stars have not won any of their last seven AFCON qualifying matches.
The defeat has left Ghana at the foot of Group C with zero points, while Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia are at the top of the standings with three points each. Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, will be under pressure to turn the team's fortunes around, especially with their next match against The Gambia being a critical fixture. A failure to collect points in that match would leave Ghana in severe danger of trailing the pace in the group with limited room for recovery.
A supercomputer has predicted Ghana's chances of qualifying for AFCON 2027. According to Football Meets Data, the Black Stars have a 66.2% chance of qualifying for the continental showpiece in East Africa. The AI model gives Ghana a 9.8% probability of finishing first and a 56.4% chance of taking second spot. Côte d'Ivoire has a 97.2% chance of qualification and is tipped to finish first.
The stakes are heightened by Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, finishing bottom of their qualifying group with three draws and three losses. A second successive absence from the continent's premier international tournament would represent a significant setback for a nation that has historically been one of African football's most prominent sides. Ghana has won the AFCON four times.
The path to qualification is narrow but not yet closed. Consistent performances across the remaining five matches could still secure one of the two qualification places on offer. Ghana cannot afford further dropped points if they are to avoid the humiliation of back-to-back AFCON absences. The match against The Gambia now stands as a must-not-lose fixture for Queiroz and his squad.
A three-year-old prediction by Swiss coach Raoul Savoy has resurfaced after Ghana's latest setback in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The Black Stars have now gone seven consecutive AFCON qualifying matches without a win, renewing talk about Savoy's supposed curse on the team. This curse has been a topic of discussion among Ghanaian football fans.
The Black Stars' next assignment is a critical Group C fixture against The Gambia. The match has taken on added significance given the current standings. Ghana will look to turn their fortunes around and get their qualification campaign back on track. The team will need to perform consistently across the remaining matches to secure a spot in AFCON 2027.
Key points
- Ghana has a 66.2% chance of qualifying for AFCON 2027.
- The Black Stars have a 9.8% probability of finishing first in Group C.
- Ghana's next match against The Gambia is a must-not-lose fixture.
