Sports
AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Black Stars can win opening games despite key absentees – Kofi Adams
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams says he remains confident Ghana can make a positive start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign despite several key players being unavailable.
The Black Stars begin their Group C campaign with a difficult away fixture against Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Thursday.
Ghana will then return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later, with head coach Carlos Queiroz having been forced to make several changes to his squad because of injuries and late withdrawals.
Despite the disruption, Adams believes the players available have enough quality and determination to secure positive results from both matches.
“We are hoping that on the 24th of this month, when we go to Bouaké, we are either drawing or getting all three points, and against The Gambia on the 29th to get all three points,” Adams told Max TV.
The Black Stars will be looking to put their disappointing 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign behind them after failing to reach the tournament in Morocco.
Ghana finished bottom of their qualifying group, missing out on the finals for the first time since 2004.
Queiroz has subsequently had to reshuffle his squad ahead of the opening qualifiers, with several established players ruled out through injury and others withdrawing from the squad.
Ghana’s immediate focus is on securing a result in Bouaké before turning their attention to The Gambia in Accra.
The Black Stars will also use the international window to prepare further for the upcoming campaign, with a friendly against Morocco scheduled for 4 October at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
The two AFCON qualifiers and the Morocco friendly will provide Queiroz with an opportunity to assess his squad as Ghana begin their bid to return to the continental tournament.
Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet
