Ghana has a golden opportunity to get its AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign back on track. The Black Stars will face Somalia, one of the most vulnerable teams in Group C, knowing they must collect points to keep their hopes of returning to Africa's premier international tournament alive after missing the 2025 edition.
Ghana heads into this doubleheader under pressure after losing its first two qualifying matches: a 2-0 defeat against Ivory Coast and a 4-2 loss to Gambia. As a result, the Black Stars remain pointless and must take advantage of their two games against Somalia to get back into the qualification race.
The first match will take place on November 12, with the return fixture scheduled for November 16. Both games will be played on Ghanaian soil. Somalia has also lost its first two matches and sits at the bottom of the standings alongside Ghana, although its goal difference is slightly better.
Carlos Queiroz's departure, agreed upon on October 1 following the defeats against Ivory Coast and Gambia, paved the way for Kim Lars Björkegren, who has taken over as interim head coach with the task of rescuing Ghana's qualifying campaign.
His first squad features several important returns: Jordan Ayew, back after recovering from a groin injury; Mohammed Kudus, who had not played for Ghana in 2026 due to fitness issues; Daniel Kofi Kyereh, returning to the national team for the first time since December 2022; Alidu Seidu and Mohammed Salisu. Brighton forward Ibrahim Osman is also among the notable names.
The situation is challenging, but qualification remains possible. The top two teams in Group C will advance to the final tournament, which will feature 24 nations and take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Ivory Coast and Gambia lead the group with six points each, while Ghana and Somalia remain without a point. Securing all six points against Somalia would therefore be crucial to keeping the Black Stars' qualification hopes alive.
After missing AFCON 2025 in Morocco, the four-time African champions have another opportunity to reclaim their place among the continent's top national teams. The doubleheader against Somalia could mark the beginning of the comeback Ghana desperately needs.
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