Black Stars handed Côte d’Ivoire test in 2027 AFCON qualifying draw
Ghana’s quest to return to the Africa Cup of Nations has been handed an early major challenge after the Black Stars were drawn against Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C of the qualifiers for the 2027 tournament.
The draw sets up a high-stakes qualification campaign for Ghana, which is seeking redemption after missing out on the 2025 AFCON in Morocco following a disastrous qualifying series in which the Black Stars failed to win a single match.
For a nation with four continental titles and one of Africa’s richest football histories, the latest qualifying campaign is being viewed as a defining moment in the rebuilding process of the senior national team.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with 48 countries competing across 12 qualifying groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the finals.
While Somalia are considered the least experienced side in Group C, Ghana’s clashes against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia are expected to shape the outcome of the qualification race.
The draw revives one of African football’s fiercest rivalries as Ghana prepare to face Côte d’Ivoire, a side currently regarded among the continent’s strongest teams following their recent resurgence under coach Emerse Faé.
The Elephants head into the qualifiers with renewed confidence and a squad blending experienced internationals with highly-rated emerging stars playing across Europe’s top leagues.
For Ghana, the encounters against their West African rivals are expected to test the progress of a team still attempting to regain consistency and identity after successive disappointments on the continental stage.
The Black Stars had previously suffered back-to-back group stage exits at the last two AFCON tournaments before failing to qualify entirely for the 2025 edition, deepening concerns over the direction of Ghana football.
The Gambia are also expected to present a difficult challenge after steadily establishing themselves as one of Africa’s emerging forces in recent years. The Scorpions have gained recognition for their disciplined tactical approach, compact defending and dangerous counter-attacking style, making them a potentially troublesome opponent in a tightly contested group.
Somalia, meanwhile, enter the qualifiers as outsiders after progressing through the preliminary stages, but their presence adds another layer of unpredictability to the campaign.
The qualifying series will begin during the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6, 2026, when the opening two rounds of matches are scheduled to be played.
Matchdays three and four will follow from November 9 to 17, 2026, before the final qualification fixtures are played between March 22 and 30, 2027.
A total of 28 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including automatically qualified hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
