Black Stars Arrive in Bouaké Ahead of Côte d’Ivoire AFCON Qualifier

Ghana’s Black Stars have arrived in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of their opening match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. The Ghanaian team travelled from Accra and touched down in Bouaké on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as the team begins its final preparations for the crucial Group C encounter against Côte d’Ivoire.

The match, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, will be played at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, with both sides looking to make a strong start to their qualifying campaign. Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz and his technical team are expected to lead the squad through a final training session ahead of the fixture, while the players will also undergo their final tactical preparations for the clash.

The Black Stars' preparations have been affected by injuries to some key players, including Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus, forcing changes to the squad ahead of the opening qualifier. Despite the setbacks, Ghana will be hoping to begin the campaign with a positive result away from home before returning to Accra for their second qualifying fixture against The Gambia.

Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia make up Group C of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The Black Stars' arrival in Bouaké signals the final stage of preparations for what promises to be a competitive opening fixture as Ghana begins its quest to secure qualification for the continental tournament.