Queiroz Urges Black Stars to Focus on Côte d’Ivoire in AFCON Qualifier
Ghana's Black Stars, under coach Carlos Queiroz, are set to begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a strong focus on winning their next game. They face Côte d’Ivoire away before hosting The Gambia, as they aim to avoid another qualification setback despite recent squad changes due to injuries.
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has urged Ghana to focus entirely on winning their next game as they begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Ghana, which missed out on the 2025 AFCON, will open their Group C campaign with an away fixture against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, with Queiroz insisting that the immediate objective must come before longer-term ambitions. “The most important trophy at this moment is the next game, to win the next game,” Queiroz said, comparing the qualification journey to climbing the steps of a building before reaching the top.
Ghana will return home after the Côte d’Ivoire fixture to host The Gambia in Accra on September 29, giving the Black Stars two important early tests in Group C. However, their preparations have been affected by injuries and squad changes, with Mohammed Kudus and Nathaniel Adjei withdrawing, while Thomas Partey was not invited because of persistent hamstring problems. Queiroz subsequently called up Alidu Seidu, Jonas Adjetey, Mohammed Fuseini and Brandon Thomas-Asante as replacements.
Despite the changes to his squad, Queiroz has maintained his focus on the immediate challenge in Bouaké, rather than looking beyond the opening fixture. The Black Stars will first have to negotiate their away encounter with Côte d’Ivoire before turning their attention to the home meeting with The Gambia. For Ghana, the opening two matches provide an opportunity to establish momentum in a qualification campaign the team is entering after missing the 2025 tournament.