Black Stars arrive in Bouake ahead of Cote d’Ivoire clash

Ghana's national football team, known as the Black Stars, have arrived in Bouake ahead of their opening match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cote d'Ivoire. The squad traveled from Accra on Wednesday and made their arrival in the Ivorian city later that day as final preparations for the game commenced. Carlos Queiroz, the head coach of the Black Stars, is set to lead the team during their final training session at the Stade de la Paix, the very venue where the crucial match will be held on Thursday.

The training session will serve as an opportunity for the players to acclimate themselves with the pitch and for Queiroz to make any necessary tactical adjustments before the game.

The Black Stars had their initial training camp in Accra on Monday, with the first set of training sessions taking place at the Accra Sports Stadium. On Tuesday, eighteen players participated in further training as the squad continued to take shape following several player withdrawals and late additions. Ghana has faced a number of absences ahead of the qualifier, including the unavailability of Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Nathaniel Adjei.

In response to these challenges, Queiroz has made several tactical changes, bringing in replacements such as Osasuna defender Rockson Yeboah, who received his first senior call-up following a successful spell in La Liga.

Thursday's fixture will mark Ghana's first Group C match as they endeavor to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco. The Black Stars aim to leave Bouake with a positive result before heading back home to face The Gambia on September 27. Group C also includes Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, and Somalia, with Ghana looking to make a strong start under the guidance of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz.

The coach will be hopeful that his team can successfully navigate the challenging away fixture and return to Accra with a result, thus providing a much-needed boost of momentum for the rest of the qualifying campaign.