AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Essam El Hadary highlights Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire group as toughest

Legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary has labeled Group C as the “most difficult” section of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers following the official draw ceremony held on Tuesday in Cairo.

The four-time African champion expressed his concerns regarding the competitive balance of the group, which features a heavyweight clash between West African giants Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Speaking as a draw assistant at the CAF headquarters, El Hadary echoed the sentiments of his fellow legend, Trésor Mputu, who was also on stage to help conduct the proceedings.

The draw placed the 2023 champions, Côte d’Ivoire, alongside a resurgent Ghana, a dangerous Gambia side, and Somalia, creating what many observers are already calling the “Group of Death” for the upcoming qualifying campaign.

“All the teams [in other groups] are balanced but my colleague (Trésor Mputu) is right,” El Hadary stated during the live broadcast.

“Group C is the most difficult because Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are very tough teams.”

His assessment highlights the high stakes for the Black Stars of Ghana, who fell into Pot 2 for the draw, and the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire, who are looking to maintain their dominance on the continent.

The 2027 tournament, officially branded as the “PAMOJA” AFCON, marks a historic shift as it will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

This joint hosting effort by the East African nations is set to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027.