Black Stars midfielder Kwasi Sibo says Ghana must secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the country’s failure to reach the previous edition left many Ghanaians disappointed.
Ghana missed out on the last AFCON tournament in Morocco, ending the Black Stars’ long-standing run of appearances at the continental showpiece.
The Black Stars will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a difficult away fixture against Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on September 24.
Ghana will then return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27, as head coach Carlos Queiroz looks to make a strong start in Group C.
Speaking to the media after the team opened camp on Monday, Sibo said qualification must be an immediate priority for the Black Stars, given Ghana’s rich history in African football.
“The only thing I have in mind is we have to qualify for this AFCON, because I think the last AFCON that we didn’t qualify for was a big disappointment for all Ghanaians,” Sibo said.
He added that Ghana’s reputation on the continent and the passion surrounding the national team make a return to the AFCON particularly important.
“When it comes to African history, the Ghana national team is one of the African teams that even in the world everybody knows about how passionate Ghana football is, so I just feel like this is the right time that we have to make things right.”
Sibo praises Queiroz
The midfielder also praised Queiroz, describing the Portuguese coach as disciplined and tactical in his approach to matches.
According to Sibo, the coach studies the strengths and weaknesses of opponents before deciding how to approach each game.
“What I would say is he’s a very disciplined coach and a very tactical coach. He approaches every game by what he sees from the opponent,” he explained.
However, Sibo believes the Black Stars still have areas to improve, both as a team and individually, as they begin a new chapter under Queiroz.
“So I think we are playing under him; there are things that I feel like we can improve as a team and as individuals,” he added.
Queiroz was reappointed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in September following his initial mandate, which included leading the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His new assignment begins with the upcoming international window, with securing AFCON qualification now the team’s immediate target.
Competition for places
Sibo also welcomed competition within the squad, saying the presence of quality players competing for the same positions can motivate everyone to improve.
“Yes, I just believe that this team, we need to be competitive every time in the team, so if we have players that play in the same position, I think it’s something that is very good for each and everyone in the team to push ourselves so that we can give the best to the nation,” he said.
Sibo was part of Ghana’s squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting the Black Stars’ matches against England, Croatia and Colombia.
After the AFCON qualifiers, Ghana will conclude the international window with a high-profile friendly against Morocco at the Grand Stade de Tanger on October 4.
