'Ivory Coast benefitted from some of the mistakes we made' – Kurt Okraku

Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has stated that Ivory Coast's recent success in African football may have been partly influenced by mistakes made by Ghana during their own campaigns. Speaking about Ghana's upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast, Okraku praised the Elephants' progress but emphasized that Ghana must learn from past errors.

He noted that Ivory Coast has become one of the continent's leading teams in recent years, with the country winning the AFCON in 2024. Okraku recalled a specific moment during Ghana's group stage match against Mozambique at the 2024 AFCON, where a late goal by Ivory Coast led to a 2-2 draw. Despite Ghana being on their way to the knockout stage, Ivory Coast's resilience allowed them to advance and ultimately win the tournament.

Ghana will face Ivory Coast in a highly anticipated qualifier in September, as both nations vie for a spot at the 2027 AFCON. Okraku's comments highlight the importance for Ghana to learn from past mistakes and avoid repeating them, as the Black Stars seek to return to the continental tournament after recent struggles. The upcoming match between Ghana and Ivory Coast is expected to be a significant fixture in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.