AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Black Stars chase first points after Côte d’Ivoire defeat

[caption id="attachment_1349860" align="alignnone" width="612"] KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 03: Ghana players huddle before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana at Kansas City Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)[/caption]Ghanas Black Stars will be aiming to open their points account in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium today.Carlos Queirozs side began their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Cte dIvoire in Bouak last Thursday, leaving Ghana needing a response in their first home fixture.The Black Stars created some of the better opportunities in the opening game but were unable to find the breakthrough, with Malick Yalcouye scoring shortly before half-time before Franck Kessie converted a second-half penalty for the hosts.Queiroz has since placed particular emphasis on finishing, with Ghana working on their attacking efficiency during preparations for The Gambia.If we want to win the game, we have to have the ball with us, we have to recover the ball, keep the ball with us, the coach said.He added: I am very much confident that it's positive football, attacking football. If our defining moments get better, we're very close to winning.Ghana will be without several key players for the encounter, while Alexander Djiku has also been ruled out after picking up an injury in the defeat to Cte dIvoire.Despite the setbacks, Queiroz confirmed that 22 players are ready for the match, with Ronald Donkor the only remaining doubt.The Black Stars will now look to make home advantage count and claim their first points of the campaign against a Gambian side also seeking a positive start in Group C.For Ghana, victory would provide an important response to the opening-day setback and put their qualification campaign back on track.