Cote d’Ivoire favourites to edge Ghana in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier

Cote d’Ivoire begin their bid to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a Group C meeting against Ghana at the Stade de la paix in Bouake on Thursday, 24 September 2026, with kick-off at 19:00 GMT. NCI Sport consultant Nasser Eddy, who presents the European Champions League on radio Nostalgie, has given his assessment of the tie.

The tournament is nine months away, with 48 teams starting qualification this week. Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, both former multiple winners of the competition, are among the headline names involved.

Cote d’Ivoire starting a new cycle

Cote d’Ivoire are beginning a new era after the World Cup, where the Elephants were eliminated in the last 16. Emerse Fae and his staff have departed after more than two years in charge, with Herve Renard returning to the dugout. Renard led Cote d’Ivoire to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Frenchman has already made an impression by changing around a third of the squad in his first selection, announced on 16 August. Eight players were named for the first time, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Patrick Zabi and Brighton player Malick Yalcouye, who has made a strong start to the season. They replace, among others, international retirees Jean-Mickael Seri and Seko Fofana.

Renard can still call on an experienced core including Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Ghislain Konan, Evan Ndicka and Nicolas Pepe. Amad Diallo and Wilfried Singo are unavailable through injury.

Home advantage is significant: Cote d’Ivoire have lost only twice in 20 years in Bouake, against Guinea and Gabon during the difficult 2016-2017 period. Their attacking line has also scored in each of its past 13 matches, although the team continues to search for a settled number nine.

Ghana seeking a positive result

For Ghana, avoiding defeat against their principal Group C rivals is the immediate priority. A draw would represent a positive result for the Black Stars, who missed the most recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after first-round exits at the previous two editions.

Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese, remains in charge after Ghana’s acceptable World Cup campaign, which ended with a 1-0 last-16 defeat by Colombia.

The squad includes most of the team’s established players, although Inaki Williams has retired from international football and Thomas Partey is also absent. Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, Antoine Semenyo and Mohamed Kudus are available.

Despite that attacking talent, Ghana have scored more than one goal in none of their past 11 matches.

Recent major meetings have favoured Cote d’Ivoire. The Elephants won the 1992 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals after 0-0 draws and penalty shootouts, as well as beating Ghana 4-2 in the 2008 third-place play-off and 3-1 in the 2010 group stage. Their last meeting, in June 2021, ended 0-0 in a friendly.

Yan Diomande and Antoine Semenyo are expected to provide the main attacking threat. Diomande is adapting slowly at Real Madrid, while Semenyo has scored two goals and provided three assists in five Premier League appearances for Manchester City.

The listed 1xBet odds are: Cote d’Ivoire win 1.67; both teams to score – no, 1.66; a 1-0 scoreline, 5; Nicolas Pepe to score at any time, 4.1; and Cote d’Ivoire to win the corners, 1.34.

The match will be shown live on NCI, La3 and Canal+Sports Afrique. Odds may change.