Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku says Ghana’s mistakes at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations helped Ivory Coast recover from a group-stage crisis and go on to become African champions.
The two sides are preparing to meet in their opening Group C qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with Okraku acknowledging Ivory Coast’s progress while insisting Ghana must learn from the errors that undermined its own campaign in Cote d’Ivoire.
“Cote d’Ivoire have done well in the last few years. They were one of those few countries that benefited from some of the mistakes we made to become African champions,” Okraku told 3Sports.
Ivory Coast’s tournament appeared to be in danger after a heavy group-stage defeat, but the hosts were given a route into the knockout phase after Ghana suffered a late collapse against Mozambique.
Ghana led 2-0 after 89 minutes of their final Group B match and looked set to secure the result needed to keep their own qualification hopes alive. Mozambique then scored twice in the closing stages to draw 2-2, a result that eliminated the Black Stars and allowed Ivory Coast to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
Okraku identified that match as the moment that transformed the hosts’ prospects.
“When they hosted the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, I remember on matchday three, Ghana was playing Mozambique.
“Eighty-nine minutes, Ghana was leading 2-0. Ghana was on our way out of the group to make it to the knockout stage. Then after four minutes, the score was 2-2 and Cote d’Ivoire, who were on their way home, found themselves back in the competition, and they went all the way to become African champions.”
Ivory Coast subsequently embarked on an unexpected run through the knockout rounds under coach Emerse Fae, eventually lifting the trophy on home soil.
For Ghana, the draw with Mozambique meant a second successive group-stage exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars had surrendered a two-goal advantage late in the game, while Ivory Coast took advantage of the resulting permutation to remain in the competition.
Ghana will now begin its bid to reach the 2027 tournament with an away fixture against Ivory Coast on 24 September. The match will be played at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
Somalia and The Gambia are the other teams in Group C.
The Black Stars are seeking their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1982. Their meeting with the reigning African champions will provide the opening test of that qualification campaign, as Ghana attempts to avoid a repeat of the mistakes Okraku believes contributed to Ivory Coast’s triumph.
