By Emmanuel Bamfo 
The Ghana Black Stars have officially touched down on Ivorian soil in Bouaké. The national team arrived on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, ahead of their crucial opening Group C encounter for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Ghana faces off against hosting rivals Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Thursday, September 24. The squad left Accra on Wednesday morning after holding intensive preparation sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz led the contingent into Bouaké as the team sets up base ahead of matchday one. The technical team scheduled a final training session on Wednesday evening at the match venue to adapt to the local pitch condition.
This qualifier marks the start of a clean slate after Ghana missed out on the 2025 continental showpiece in Morocco. The players carry huge determination to kick off the qualifying series on a positive note away from home.
The Black Stars hit the ground running despite missing several senior starters through injuries. Regulars like Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Thomas Partey were all ruled out before the squad departed Accra.
Queiroz quickly handed call-ups to dynamic replacements like Felix Afena-Gyan, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jonas Adjetey, and debutant Rockson Yeboah. The technical team expects these energetic players to stepped into the starting lineup with maximum aggression.
Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku expressed complete confidence in the squad assembled for the Bouaké showdown. He urged football enthusiasts across Ghana and the diaspora to back the boys with unyielding support.
After Thursday’s clash against the Elephants, the Black Stars will fly back to Accra to host The Gambia on September 27. Securing positive results in both fixtures remains vital to taking early control of Group C.
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Source: Ghana News Page