Black Stars Drawn in Group C with Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Somalia for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
Ghana have been placed in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Somalia for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following the draw conducted on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt.
The Black Stars will be looking to bounce back strongly and return to the continental showpiece after missing out on the last AFCON. Ghana finished bottom of their qualifying group in the previous campaign without a single win, a disappointing performance that saw them eliminated early.
Only the top two teams from the group will qualify for the 2027 tournament. With powerhouse Côte d’Ivoire in the same pool, Ghana will face a tough challenge but will fancy their chances against Gambia and Somalia.
The draw for the qualifiers took place at the CAF headquarters in Cairo on May 19, 2026. The 48 participating nations were divided into twelve groups of four, seeded into four pots based on the FIFA rankings of April 2026.
The ceremony was conducted by a panel of African football legends including former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong, two-time AFCON winner Max Gradel, former DR Congo star Tresor Mputu, and three-time AFCON champion and legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.
Coach Carlos Queiroz and the other Black Stars technical team will now begin detailed planning as they aim to secure one of the two qualification spots from Group C.
The campaign offers Ghana a crucial opportunity to redeem themselves and rebuild momentum ahead of major competitions.
Ghana will be determined to avoid a repeat of their recent qualifying struggles and make a strong return to the Africa Cup of Nations.
By: Iddrisu Abdul Rahim
