AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Ghana stumble in Bouake as Cote d'Ivoire secure 2-0 victory

Ghana suffered a disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign after losing 2-0 to Cote dIvoire in their Group C opener at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Thursday.The Black Stars, who entered the game with several key players unavailable, struggled to turn their spells of possession into clear-cut opportunities as the hosts gradually took control of the contest.Cote dIvoire broke the deadlock on the brink of half-time through debutant Malick Yalcouye.The midfielder found space on the edge of the Ghana penalty area before unleashing a strike that beat goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi to give the Elephants a 1-0 lead heading into the interval.Ghana needed a strong response after the restart, but their task became even more difficult shortly after half-time when Cte dIvoire doubled their advantage.Captain Franck Yannick Kessie stepped up to take a penalty and calmly converted from the spot, putting the hosts 2-0 ahead.Carlos Queiroz's side struggled to create consistent attacking pressure despite attempting to push forward in search of a way back into the game.Ghana's clearest opportunity arrived in the 76th minute when Caleb Yirenkyi found himself with an effort from inside the box.However, Cote dIvoire goalkeeper Yahia Fofana was equal to the attempt, producing the save to preserve his side's two-goal cushion.The defeat leaves Ghana without a point from their opening Group C fixture, while Cte dIvoire make a winning start under returning coach Herv Renard.The Black Stars must now quickly regroup ahead of their next qualifying assignment against The Gambia in Accra on September 29.Ghana will need a significant improvement in attacking efficiency and their overall execution if they are to respond positively and get their qualification campaign back on track.