The qualification journey for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Thursday, September 24, with a high-stakes encounter between Ivory Coast and Ghana. The match, hosted at the Stade de Bouake in Ivory Coast, is set for a 19:00 GMT kickoff. Fans can tune into Sport for comprehensive pre-match build-up starting at 16:00 GMT followed by live text coverage.
This Group C fixture features two continental heavyweights who share a deep competitive history. The group also includes The Gambia and Somalia. Looking ahead to the next set of qualifiers, Ghana is scheduled to host The Gambia on Tuesday, while Ivory Coast will head to Somalia for their subsequent test.
Ivory Coast enters this cycle with a singular mission: securing the 2027 AFCON title following their round-of-32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Norway. The team is now under the guidance of Herve Renard, who returns to the dugout after replacing Emerse Fae. Renard is a decorated tactician, having previously managed the Ivorians from 2014 to 2015, during which he led them to continental glory before moving to Lille. His resume includes a 2012 AFCON triumph with Zambia and stints managing Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, including a memorable 2022 World Cup win against Argentina.
The current Ivorian squad remains formidable despite the absence of past legends. Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande, following his $161 million transfer from RB Leipzig, leads the charge. The lineup also features veteran midfielder Franck Kessie, now at Atalanta, and Villarreal’s Nicolas Pepe. Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare adds stability, though the team will miss Amad Diallo due to injury, alongside squad omissions Evann Guessand and Omar Diakite.
Historically, Ivory Coast has found success against Ghana, notably defeating them in the 1992 and 2015 AFCON finals. The Elephants are three-time winners, having also clinched the trophy on home soil in 2023. Their projected starting XI includes Fofana, Doue, Koussounou, O Diomande, Konan, Kessie, Sangare, Inao, Pepe, Bonny, and Y Diomande.
Ghana’s side is navigating a transition under coach Carlos Queiroz, who took the helm following their round-of-32 loss to Colombia in the 2026 World Cup. The 73-year-old manager, known for his long tenure with Iran and his time assisting Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, brings immense experience from managing South Africa, Egypt, Colombia, Qatar, and Portugal. The Black Stars, four-time AFCON champions who have not held the trophy since 1982, are desperate to improve after missing the previous tournament.
The Ghanaian squad faces significant injury setbacks. Key figures like Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus—who missed the World Cup due to a hamstring injury—are unavailable. Additionally, captain Jordan Ayew is sidelined. Despite these absences, the roster retains talent including Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams. The predicted lineup for Ghana features Asare, Oppong, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah, Yirenkyi, Sibo, Donkor, Issahaku, Thomas-Asante, and Nuamah.
Historically, these nations have met 38 times, with Ghana holding 15 wins compared to Ivory Coast’s 10. Their last competitive clash was an Ivory Coast victory in the 2010 AFCON round of 16, while their most recent encounter—a 2021 friendly—resulted in a 0-0 stalemate. The report also notes that the qualification process for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off with a match befitting the final itself as Ivory Coast play Ghana. The report also notes that both nations are packed with high-profile players and are led by names that have managed at the highest levels of the game. The report also notes that takes a look at the mouth-watering opener on the path to the finals in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The report also notes that leading them to the AFCON title before joining French Ligue 1 club Lille immediately after the final, the Frenchman previously managed Ivory Coast from 2014 to 2015. The report also notes that the 57-year-old has also managed Morocco, Tunisia – in a last-minute call-up at World Cup 2026 – and Saudi Arabia, who he famously led to victory against Argentina in their group-stage match at Qatar 2022. The report also notes that although not blessed with the superstar-level talents like Didier Drogba from their 2015 victory, Ivory Coast are still a force to be reckoned with. The report also notes that yan Diomande is the shining light of African football following his $161m move to Spanish giants Real Madrid from RB Leipzig in Germany.
