Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston says the Black Stars will need a miracle to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after losing their opening two matches.
Ghana have been beaten by Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia, leaving the four-time African champions without a point and facing an uphill battle to reach the tournament.
“It’ll be a miracle for Ghana to qualify to the 2027 AFCON,” Kingston told 3Sports, as quoted by the outlet on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The former winger was speaking after a difficult start that has placed Ghana’s qualification campaign in serious doubt. The Black Stars began with a 2-0 defeat by Cote d’Ivoire before suffering a damaging 4-2 loss against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana had taken a two-goal lead in that match but surrendered their advantage as The Gambia completed a comeback. The result has increased scrutiny of the team’s defensive organisation, competitiveness and ability to cope with pressure.
The two defeats have left Ghana in a precarious position in the qualifying group, with little room for further mistakes. They must now produce a significant improvement in both performances and results if they are to recover their campaign.
Kingston’s assessment reflects wider concerns about the Black Stars’ recent displays and the pressure on the players and technical team. Ghana will need greater consistency, improved defensive resilience and more effectiveness in front of goal to retain any realistic chance of reaching the continental competition.
The difficult beginning has also intensified questions about the national team’s technical direction and its broader preparation for upcoming international competitions. Supporters will expect an urgent response as the qualifiers continue.
Ghana’s potential absence would be a major setback for a nation with a strong Africa Cup of Nations history. The Black Stars have won the continental title four times, although their recent struggles have raised doubts about whether they can return to the standard expected of one of Africa’s traditionally successful football nations.
Kingston’s comments underline the scale of the task facing the team. While qualification remains the objective, Ghana must repair the damage from their opening defeats and hope results elsewhere in the group keep the door open for a late recovery.
The Black Stars will need to target maximum points from their remaining fixtures. Their next results will determine whether the poor start becomes decisive or whether they can revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
