Football rivalries don’t come much richer or more dramatic than Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Black Stars and the Elephants have met twice in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, and on both occasions, the trophy was decided by penalties.
Both times, Côte d’Ivoire emerged victorious. The first came in 1992 in Dakar, Senegal, in one of the most extraordinary finals in AFCON history. After 120 goalless minutes, the two sides could not be separated, forcing the final into a shoot-out.
A staggering 24 penalties were taken before Côte d’Ivoire finally prevailed 11–10, handing the Elephants their first AFCON title and leaving Ghana to wonder what might have been.
Twenty-three (23) years later, in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, history repeated itself. Once again, the match finished 0-0 after extra time. And again the Ivorians held their nerve, winning 9-8 on penalties under Hervé Renard to secure their second AFCON crown. Those two nights remain etched in the memories of fans on both sides of the border.
Now, more than a decade after the last final, the “old enemies” have been drawn together again; this time in the qualifying group for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Group C pairs Ghana with Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia. The top two will advance to the tournament, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. For the Black Stars, the group offers both a chance for redemption after missing the previous edition and a stern examination against familiar and unfamiliar foes.
Côte d’Ivoire – The Reining Heavyweights
Les Éléphants arrive as favourites and recent continental champions. They lifted the trophy on home soil in 2023 (the tournament played in early 2024) in a dramatic fashion, and they remain one of Africa’s most consistent performers. Three AFCON titles (1992, 2015 and 2023), four World Cup appearances, and a first-ever knockout-stage run at the 2026 finals underline their pedigree.
Their current FIFA ranking sits at 31st in the world, firmly among Africa’s elite. Their all-time greats include Didier Drogba (record 65 goals), Didier Zokora (most capped with 123 appearances), Yaya and Kolo Touré, Salomon Kalou and Gervinho.
The present generation is led by captain Franck Kessié and features a deep pool of Europe-based talents. In August 2026, the Ivorian federation brought back a familiar face: Hervé Renard.
The Frenchman, who masterminded the 2015 triumph against Ghana, returns for a second spell after Emerse Faé’s successful tenure. Renard’s appointment adds extra spice to the forthcoming meetings. Few coaches know how to get the better of the Black Stars quite like him.
And, oh boy… that fixture on September 24, matchday one of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, is one you simply cannot afford to miss.
Why? Because this one has everything. There’s revenge on the table for Ghana. There’s Hervé Renard, a familiar face, a coach Ghana pursued for some time, in what many believed could have been a marriage made to succeed.
Then there’s Ghana, a nation that missed out on the last AFCON and is now desperate to return to Africa’s biggest football stage. And leading the Black Stars is one of the most experienced coaches in world football, a man with deep ties to the African game, Carlos Queiroz.
So, what happens when all these storylines collide in Bouaké?
Will Ghana settle the score?
Will Renard have the last laugh?
Or will Queiroz begin his latest chapter with the Black Stars with a statement victory?
September 24. Stade de la Paix. Bouaké.
The stage is set.
The Gambia – The Dangerous Dark Horses
The Scorpions made their AFCON debut in Cameroon in 2021 and immediately announced themselves with a historic run reaching the Quarter-finals as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.
Beat Mauritania, drew with Mali, beat Tunisia, beat Guinea in the round of 16, then lost 2–0 to hosts Cameroon in the quarters.
Ranked 116th in the world, The Gambia have continued to punch above their weight. Northern Irish coach Johnny McKinstry, appointed in 2024 and recently handed a contract extension, has instilled a more attacking approach and successfully integrated diaspora talent.
Key figures include captain Omar Colley (most capped), top scorer Musa Barrow, Assan Ceesay, Ablie Jallow and Premier League star Yankuba Minteh.
They may lack the star power of Côte d’Ivoire, but they possess organisation, belief and the ability to frustrate bigger sides. Ghana will treat them with respect.
Somalia – The Ultimate Underdogs
The Ocean Stars sit near the bottom of the FIFA rankings (199th) and have never qualified for an AFCON final.
Decades of civil conflict and limited infrastructure have made consistent progress difficult. Competitive wins remain rare, though the side has shown occasional flashes of resilience in preliminary rounds.
Coach Yusuf Ali Nur leads a squad that often relies on diaspora players and must frequently stage “home” matches abroad. Their goal is survival and experience; for Ghana, these fixtures represent must-win opportunities to bank points early.
And then there is another interesting subplot in this qualifying campaign. Following strong reports that Somalia could play its home games in Ghana, the Black Stars could potentially have a very tempting opportunity on their hands.
Six points. Yes, six very important points — if Ghana can take full advantage of the situation and get maximum points from both encounters with Somalia. On paper, that could be a feast for the Black Stars to munch on.
But hold on, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. If recent history has taught us anything, then playing at home does not automatically guarantee three points for Ghana.
The Black Stars have dropped crucial points on home soil in recent years, and the Accra Sports Stadium itself has witnessed one of those painful reminders.
Remember Niger in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers? Ghana, under former Black Stars coach Otto Addo, played Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium and could only manage a draw. So, while Somalia potentially using Accra may look like a golden opportunity for Ghana to bank six points, football has a funny way of humbling you when you start counting points before the ball is kicked.
The opportunity is there. The six points are there. But first, Ghana must earn them.
And if Somalia does eventually make Accra its home for this campaign, the Black Stars will have to make sure that the visitors don’t turn Ghana’s own backyard into their hunting ground.
What It Means for the Black Stars
Group C is no easy ride. Côte d’Ivoire will be the benchmark. The Gambia can take points from anyone on a good day. Somalia will be desperate to cause an upset. Ghana, still rebuilding after recent disappointments, must combine steel against the Elephants with clinical efficiency against Somalia and The Gambia.
The rivalry with Côte d’Ivoire has already produced two of the most dramatic finals in African football history. Now the next chapter begins not under the lights of a continental final, but in the grind of qualification.
For supporters of both nations, the prospect of another high-stakes encounter is reason enough to circle the dates. The rest of the teams in Group C will have to try and keep up.
