Ghana begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a difficult assignment on Thursday, September 24, when the Black Stars travel to Bouaké to face Côte d’Ivoire.
The Group C opener was already expected to be a tough test, but Ghana’s task has become more complicated following a series of withdrawals from Carlos Queiroz’s squad.
Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and Abdul Rahman Baba are among the players unavailable, while Prince Kwabena Adu is also a doubt after suffering a head injury.
The changes have forced Queiroz to strengthen his squad with additional players, including defenders Jonas Adjetey, Ebenezer Annan and Rockson Yeboah, midfielder Rahim Ibrahim and forwards Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan.
For some of the new additions, the call-up comes at a critical moment, with Ghana needing players outside the original plans to make an immediate impact against one of Africa’s strongest sides.
That could also create opportunities for players such as Rahim Ibrahim and Rockson Yeboah to make their mark, while Caleb Yirenkyi, who was part of the original squad, could also be asked to take on greater responsibility.
Ernest Nuamah could be Ghana’s attacking outlet. With Kudus, Semenyo and Jordan Ayew unavailable, much of the attention will fall on Nuamah.
The Lyon forward arrives in camp in strong club form, having scored three goals and provided one assist in four Ligue 1 appearances this season.
His pace and movement could be particularly important against an experienced Ivorian defence. Ghana may need Nuamah to provide the attacking spark that would normally come from Kudus, Semenyo or Jordan Ayew.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku is another player who could be asked to step up. The Ipswich winger offers the Black Stars a direct threat from wide areas, while his ability to run at defenders could be useful if Queiroz wants the team to attack quickly in transition.
Christopher Bonsu Baah is another option. The Al Qadsiah midfielder has been getting regular club minutes and could provide energy and creativity if called upon.
Despite the changes to his squad, Carlos Queiroz says he will not abandon the football philosophy he has built his career around.
The Portuguese coach pushed back against criticism that his teams are too defensive, insisting that his approach is built around winning.
“My style of football is the winning style,” Queiroz said at his pre-match press conference.
He explained that Ghana must attack when they have possession and fight to win the ball back when they lose it.
“When we have the ball, we have to attack. We have the ball, we have to find one way to score,” he said.
That could be significant in Bouaké. With Kudus, Semenyo and Jordan Ayew unavailable, Ghana have less individual attacking firepower, meaning Queiroz may have to rely even more on collective movement, pressing and quick transitions rather than waiting for one player to produce a moment of magic.
His point on winning the ball back could also determine how Ghana approach Côte d’Ivoire. The Black Stars are likely to spend periods without possession against the hosts, but Queiroz wants that defensive work to become the starting point for Ghana’s next attack.
The challenge will be executing that philosophy with a reshuffled squad and limited preparation time. As Queiroz himself admitted, the team has had little time for major changes. “There is no room for great decisions, no room for development, only room to deliver.”
That puts added importance on discipline and collective responsibility, particularly with several new players now being asked to contribute immediately.
The Elephants will not be at full strength either. Amad Diallo and Wilfried Singo are out through injury, while Sébastien Haller, Simon Adingra, Evann Guessand and Oumar Diakité are also missing from Hervé Renard’s first squad since returning as head coach.
Renard has nevertheless retained a strong core, with Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Evan Ndicka, Ousmane Diomandé and Odilon Kossounou providing experience and quality.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have produced some memorable encounters, including the 2015 AFCON final, which ended 0-0 after extra time before Côte d’Ivoire won 9-8 on penalties. The two sides also played out a goalless draw in a friendly in Cape Coast in 2021.
Thursday’s meeting again presents a difficult test for Ghana, particularly with the Black Stars making significant changes to their squad just days before the game. For Queiroz, the challenge is finding enough attacking quality without several of his established players.
The new additions could therefore play a bigger role than originally expected. Players such as Rahim Ibrahim, Rockson Yeboah and the other late additions have been brought in to strengthen the squad, but they could also find themselves under immediate pressure to contribute.
The question is no longer simply who replaces Kudus, Semenyo and Jordan Ayew. It is whether the available players, including Nuamah, Fatawu, Bonsu Baah, Yirenkyi and the new additions, can collectively produce enough quality to trouble Côte d’Ivoire. If the Black Stars are to leave Bouaké with three points, Ghana will need to defend with discipline, remain compact and make their chances count.
