By Aaron Hammond 
Ghana’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have suffered a major setback after the Black Stars lost 4-2 to The Gambia on Tuesday, September 29.
The defeat came just days after Ghana opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 loss to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké. The result means the Black Stars have now lost their first two qualifying matches and remain without a point. The GFA had described the Gambia match as a crucial opportunity for Ghana to get the campaign back on track.
Ghana’s Poor Start Raises Pressure
The 4-2 defeat will naturally leave Ghanaian supporters disappointed, especially after the team returned home expecting a strong response. The Black Stars scored twice, but The Gambia found the net four times to take all three points from Accra. Ghana now face a difficult fight to recover from the poor start. The Gambia had already shown their strength by beating Somalia 2-1 in their opening Group C game.
The pressure is also coming at a time when Ghana are trying to return to the AFCON after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco. Coach Carlos Queiroz had called on supporters to back the players before the game, saying the available squad was ready to fight for the result. Instead, the Black Stars conceded four goals on home soil.
Can Ghana Still Qualify For AFCON 2027?
Ghana’s qualification hopes are not over yet, but the road has become much harder. The 2027 AFCON qualifying format has four teams in each group, with the top two teams qualifying for the tournament. Ghana still have four Group C matches to play, including two against Somalia and another meeting with Côte d’Ivoire.
The immediate task for the Black Stars is to stop the slide. Ghana need points from the remaining matches and will also have to improve their goal difference after conceding six goals in their opening two games. The team cannot afford another run of poor results if they want to remain in the qualification race.
For Ghanaian supporters, the result is another difficult night to take. The Black Stars showed enough attacking ability to score twice, but conceding four goals at home will raise fresh questions about the team’s defensive organisation and consistency. With the next qualifying matches still ahead, Ghana have time to respond, but the margin for error is now much smaller.
Also Read: Stay Home If You Only Want To Cry: Carlos Queiroz
Source: Ghana News Page