Ghana must make a strong start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Henry Asante Twum has said.
The Black Stars will begin their campaign against Ivory Coast in Bouaké on 24 September before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.
The qualifiers come after Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, with the team now turning their attention to securing a return to the continental tournament.
Ghana missed out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after a disappointing qualifying campaign, and Asante Twum says the team cannot afford another slow start.
“We want to start well. It is always important to start well in the qualifiers,” he told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.
“We did not start well in the last edition of the AFCON qualifiers, but we want to do well this time around.”
The Black Stars are expected to have a new-look squad for the qualifiers, with head coach Carlos Queiroz due to arrive in Ghana this week and expected to name his squad for the two matches.
Ghana will face a demanding opening fixture against Ivory Coast before returning home to take on The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with Ghana seeking to end a 42-year wait for the continental title.
The Black Stars last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982 and have since reached the final three times, most recently in 2015.
