AFCON 2027 qualifiers: William Troost-Ekong eager for Ghana vs Ivory Coast battle

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has shared his excitement ahead of the highly anticipated clash between Ghana and Ivory Coast in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The official draw ceremony, held in Cairo on Tuesday, placed Ghana and Ivory Coast in Group C alongside Gambia and Somalia.

The showdown between the two West African giants is already being tipped as one of the standout fixtures of the qualification campaign.

Troost-Ekong Anticipating Tough Qualification Battles

Speaking to CAF Media after the draw, Troost-Ekong admitted he is eager to see how the group develops, while also reflecting on Nigeria’s own qualification path.

“I’m really excited now to see the draw for the qualification groups. I think for Nigeria, we have seen some teams that we have faced many times before, like Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau. But also, I think we have some tough groups. I’m looking forward to seeing how Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana do against Gambia and Somalia. Overall, I think it’s going to be exciting and a great run-up to the tournament in 2027,” the former Super Eagles defender said.

Qualifiers Set to Begin in September

With the draw now officially completed, focus will now shift to the opening rounds of the AFCON 2027 qualification campaign.

The first two match windows are scheduled to take place between September 21 and October 6 as teams begin their journey toward securing a place at Africa’s biggest football tournament.