Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz says Ghana’s immediate priority is to secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after missing the previous edition in Morocco.
Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON after finishing bottom of their qualifying group without a win, bringing an end to a run of 10 consecutive appearances at the continental tournament.
With that disappointment still fresh, Queiroz says the Black Stars must approach their latest qualification campaign with maximum focus as they prepare to face Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C.
“Our journey now is to have our hands in the present. We have to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, but at the same time we have our eyes on the future,” Queiroz said.
Ghana will open their campaign with a challenging away fixture against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday before returning home to host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.
The Gambia will face Somalia in the other Group C fixture on Friday, while Somalia are scheduled to host Côte d’Ivoire on September 29.
The top two teams in Group C will secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
For Ghana, the immediate objective is to secure a return to the continental showpiece after missing the previous tournament.
Queiroz, who led the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before returning for a second spell, also wants to use the qualification campaign to develop a team capable of competing in future tournaments.
However, with Ghana having missed the last AFCON, the Portuguese coach has made it clear that qualification remains the first priority.
“We have to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations,” Queiroz stressed, as the Black Stars begin their latest campaign to return to Africa’s biggest international football tournament.
