- Ghana Drawn Against Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Somalia in 2027 AFCON Qualifiers
Ghana’s Black Stars have been drawn in Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, setting up a competitive campaign against Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia. The draw was held on Tuesday, May 19, in Cairo, where African national teams discovered their qualification routes to the continental tournament. The Ghana Football Association confirmed that Ghana will compete in Group C alongside the three West African and East African opponents.
The Black Stars will be seeking to secure one of the qualification slots from the group as they attempt to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing out on the previous edition in Morocco.
Ghana’s biggest test is expected to come against Côte d’Ivoire, one of the continent’s strongest football nations and a side with recent pedigree at the highest level of African football. The Gambia, who have shown growing competitiveness in recent AFCON cycles, are also expected to present a difficult challenge, while Somalia will enter the group as underdogs but with the incentive of disrupting the traditional hierarchy.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking a historic return of the tournament to East Africa under a three-nation hosting arrangement.
The qualification campaign is scheduled to begin later this year, with Matchdays One and Two set for September 21 to October 6, 2026. Matchdays Three and Four are expected to be played between November 9 and 17, before the final two rounds take place from March 22 to 30, 2027.
For Ghana, the draw presents both a test of recovery and a measure of the Black Stars’ rebuilding process. After recent disappointments on the continental stage, qualification for AFCON 2027 will be seen not merely as a target, but as a minimum expectation for a country with four continental titles and a long-standing reputation as one of Africa’s traditional football powers.
The campaign will also test the team’s consistency, squad depth and ability to deliver results across difficult away fixtures — areas that have repeatedly shaped Ghana’s fortunes in recent major tournament qualifiers.
The Black Stars will therefore enter the qualifiers under clear pressure: to restore credibility, avoid another continental setback, and prove that Ghana remains capable of competing among Africa’s elite.
