Ghana to face Ivory Coast in 2027 AFCON Qualifying Group C

Ghana will face a stern test in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after being drawn alongside Ivory Coast, Gambia and Somalia in Group C of the qualifiers.

The draw, conducted on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo, mapped out the qualification pathway for nations hoping to reach the continental showpiece tournament.

The Black Stars entered the draw from Pot Two, knowing they could be paired with some of Africa’s strongest sides. They were eventually handed a difficult assignment against former African champions Ivory Coast, while Gambia and Somalia complete the group.

CAF’s qualification format will see 48 countries divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the finals.

For Ghana, the campaign carries added significance after a disappointing failure to qualify for the previous AFCON tournament in Morocco. The four-time African champions finished bottom of their qualifying group behind Angola, Sudan and Niger, a result that intensified pressure on the national team to rebuild and return to the top level of African football.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking the first time the competition will be staged across three East African nations in the modern era of the tournament.

CAF has also introduced a condensed qualification calendar due to the limited time before the finals, which are scheduled to take place from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

The opening two rounds of qualifiers will be played between 21 September and 6 October 2026. Matchdays three and four are scheduled for 9 to 17 November 2026, while the final round of fixtures will be held from 22 to 30 March 2027.

Ghana will now hope to avoid another setback and secure a return to Africa’s biggest football stage.