Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, has arrived in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of a highly anticipated West African showdown against the Elephants in the opening round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The encounter, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Stade de la Paix, marks the beginning of Ghana’s campaign to secure a place at Africa’s biggest international football tournament.
The team’s arrival comes after preparations in Accra, where head coach Carlos Queiroz and his technical team have been working to get the players ready for the challenging away fixture.
The Black Stars began camping on Monday, September 21, and held training sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium before departing for Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday.
Black Stars Face Tough Test Against Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana’s preparations have been affected by the withdrawal of several players, including Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo, prompting Queiroz to make adjustments to his squad.
Despite the setbacks, the Black Stars are preparing for a demanding encounter against their West African rivals.
The team is scheduled to hold its final training session at the Stade de la Paix on Wednesday evening before Thursday’s match.
Ghana will then return to Accra to host The Gambia on September 29 in their second Group C qualifying fixture.
After missing the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, the four-time African champions are seeking a return to continental football’s biggest stage.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
With the Black Stars now in Bouaké, attention turns to Thursday’s encounter as Ghana begins its campaign to qualify for the continental competition.
