Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku says the Black Stars have moved beyond the psychological barrier that previously affected them in important matches and will approach their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire with confidence.
Ghana will begin their qualifying campaign away from home against their West African rivals in September, with a place at the continent’s leading international tournament at stake.
The Black Stars failed to qualify for the previous Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a setback that added to concerns over their ability to perform consistently in high-pressure fixtures. However, confidence around the national team has increased after Ghana reached the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That run represented their best performance at a World Cup since 2010 and has helped restore belief within the squad, according to Okraku.
“That psychological block of losing games doesn’t exist anymore within this team. We will go to Cote d’Ivoire in full confidence and be competitive,” he told 3Sports.
Ghana’s opening Group C fixture will be played against the reigning African champions, presenting the Black Stars with a demanding start to their qualification campaign. Okraku nevertheless believes the team’s recent progress means previous disappointments will not weigh on the current squad.
The match is scheduled for 24 September 2026 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake. Kick-off is set for 19:00 GMT.
Ghana have been placed in Group C alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia as they attempt to secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The four-time African champions will be seeking a return to the finals after their absence from the last edition in Morocco. Their meeting with Cote d’Ivoire will therefore be an early test of whether the renewed confidence surrounding the Black Stars can translate into a strong qualifying campaign.
Okraku’s comments suggest Ghana intend to approach the fixture positively rather than allowing earlier setbacks to influence their preparations. He says the squad no longer carries the fear of losing games that he believes affected the team in the past.
The Black Stars will face the reigning African champions in Bouake knowing that the result could shape the early direction of Group C. Ghana’s confidence has been strengthened by their World Cup progress, while the upcoming fixture provides their first opportunity in this qualifying campaign to demonstrate that the psychological obstacles identified by Okraku have been overcome.
The campaign begins in September, with Ghana travelling to Cote d’Ivoire before continuing their bid for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations against Somalia and The Gambia.
