The Ghana vs Côte d’Ivoire clash will headline Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The two West African rivals have been drawn alongside The Gambia and Somalia.
The group promises an interesting battle for the two qualification places available.
The 2027 AFCON tournament will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire renew AFCON rivalry
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have a long history in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The teams have met in two memorable AFCON finals.
Their first final meeting came in 1992 in Dakar, Senegal.
The match ended goalless after extra time.
Côte d’Ivoire eventually won 11–10 on penalties after 24 spot-kicks.
The teams met again in the 2015 final in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.
That match also ended 0–0 after extra time.
Côte d’Ivoire won 9–8 on penalties to claim the trophy.
Those results remain part of the rivalry between the two nations.
Ghana seek a return to the AFCON
Ghana missed the previous AFCON tournament in Morocco.
The Black Stars will therefore be aiming to secure a place in the next edition.
The team will face a difficult test against Côte d’Ivoire.
The Ivorian side won the 2023 AFCON title on home soil.
The tournament was played in early 2024.
Côte d’Ivoire has won the competition three times.
Its previous titles came in 1992, 2015 and 2023.
Côte d’Ivoire bring strong recent record
Côte d’Ivoire will enter the qualifiers with a strong continental record.
The team also reached the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Ivorian Football Federation recently appointed Hervé Renard as head coach.
Renard guided Côte d’Ivoire to the 2015 AFCON title.
His return adds another layer to the rivalry with Ghana.
Group C race begins in September
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are scheduled to meet in Bouaké on September 24, 2026.
The match will be played at the Stade de la Paix.
Ghana’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, will lead the Black Stars into the qualifying campaign.
The GFA has expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete.
Two teams from Group C will qualify for the 2027 AFCON tournament.
The Gambia and Somalia will also be seeking to challenge the two traditional rivals.
The group stage is scheduled to continue through March 2027.
Source: CitiSports
