No room for another false start as Ghana begin AFCON qualifying campaign

Ghana kicked off their AFCON qualifying campaign with no room for error, as the pressure was on for the Black Stars to start strong. Back in 2021, they had come out on top in both their initial games, ultimately finishing atop their group. However, this time around, the challenge seemed tougher. In the opening matches against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia, Ghana's performance was anything but promising.

Following a 24-year unbeaten run against Angola, Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat that ended their unbeaten streak. They then had to contend with a 1-1 draw against Niger, leaving them with a mere one point after two games. This poor start laid the foundation for a disappointing six-match qualifying series, in which the Black Stars failed to secure a single victory, netting only three goals throughout.

New head coach Carlos Queiroz emphasized that qualification was the primary goal, seeing it as a trophy in itself. Despite this focus, Ghana will be playing without several key players due to injury, including Captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Thomas Partey. Moreover, Côte d'Ivoire, the reigning African champions, have a strong home record and have evaded defeat for over two and a half years. They will be facing Ghana away before hosting The Gambia just a few days later.

Historically, Ghana has never managed to defeat Côte d'Ivoire in an AFCON qualifier, and they have yet to score a goal against them in any qualifying fixture. The odds seem stacked against Ghana, with factors such as injuries, the strength of opponents, and past performances casting a shadow over their prospects. The Black Stars must find a way to turn things around and avoid repeating the mistakes of their last campaign.