Cote d’Ivoire v Ghana: kick-off time and broadcast details for Women’s World Cup play-off

Cote d’Ivoire face Ghana on Thursday in a decisive play-off for a place in the next stage of qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The match will be played at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 French time and 17:00 in Cote d’Ivoire, which is on GMT.

No broadcaster had been officially confirmed in France at the time of writing. In Cote d’Ivoire, the game is expected to be shown on RTI and Canal+ Sport Afrique.

The fixture brings together two sides who missed out on direct qualification for the tournament in Brazil. The winner will move into the intercontinental play-offs, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the finals.

Cote d’Ivoire seeking to recover from Algeria defeat

Cote d’Ivoire were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-1 to Algeria last weekend.

The Elephantes took the lead in the 29th minute through Ines Konan, but Algeria turned the match around after Cote d’Ivoire were reduced to 10 players. Nsira Ouedraogo was sent off shortly before half-time and will be suspended for Thursday’s meeting with Ghana.

That defeat also ended Cote d’Ivoire’s hopes of securing direct qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

Ghana suffered a similar disappointment in their own quarter-final. The Black Queens were beaten 2-1 by Malawi, whose unexpected run has been one of the notable developments of the competition.

The result means both teams now face a further test to remain on course for a place at the global tournament.

Recent meetings favour both sides

Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana have met three times since last year, with all three encounters taking place in friendly matches.

The Ivorian side won a two-match series against Ghana at the end of May and beginning of June 2025. The first game ended 3-3 before Cote d’Ivoire won the second meeting 1-0.

Ghana responded in the most recent contest on 14 July, when the Black Queens recorded a 1-0 victory.

Thursday’s match will therefore provide a more significant test than those previous meetings, with the losing team eliminated from this route to the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-offs.

Cote d’Ivoire have appeared at the Women’s World Cup only once before. Their debut came in 2015, but they were knocked out in the group stage after failing to collect a single point.