2027 AFCONQ: ‘Spineless’ Black Stars begin campaign with 2-0 loss to dominant Ivory Coast

Ghana began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast at the Stade de Bouaké on Thursday, handing Carlos Queiroz a losing start to his return as Black Stars coach.

The Elephants produced a dominant display, with first-half pressure finally paying off through Malick Yalcouye before captain Franck Kessie sealed victory from the penalty spot after the break.

Alexander Djiku captained Ghana on the night as Queiroz opted for an experienced starting XI, but the visitors struggled to cope with Ivory Coast’s intensity for long spells.

The hosts threatened as early as the sixth minute when Real Madrid forward Yan Diomandé fired wide before Nicolas Pépé squandered two promising opportunities within the opening 20 minutes.

Ghana’s best chance of the first half came in the 18th minute after Ernest Nuamah intercepted a loose pass, but his ambitious effort from distance drifted wide.

Although the Black Stars gradually settled into the contest, they continued to look vulnerable whenever the Elephants attacked, with Djiku making an important intervention to deny another dangerous move down the left.

Brandon Thomas-Asante briefly threatened on the counter-attack, but he lost his footing as Ivory Coast recovered.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 44th minute when Brighton & Hove Albion’s Malick Yalcouye struck powerfully to give the hosts a deserved lead after sustained pressure.

Ghana reached the interval trailing 1-0 without registering a shot on target.

Ivory Coast resumed where they had left off after the restart and almost doubled their advantage before Diomandé’s dangerous low cross evaded everyone in the box.

The decisive moment came in the 55th minute when Fatawu Issahaku brought down Yalcouye inside the penalty area.

Kessie calmly converted from the spot two minutes later to make it 2-0.

Queiroz responded with a triple substitution, introducing Benjamin Tetteh, Augustine Boakye and Felix Afena-Gyan for Nuamah, Thomas-Asante and Baah-Bonsu in an attempt to inject life into Ghana’s attack.

The visitors suffered another setback when captain Djiku was forced off injured and replaced by Jonas Adjetey, while Ibrahim Sulemana also came on for Kojo Oppong Peprah.

Harve Renard freshened up his side as Ivory Coast comfortably managed the closing stages, although Ghana created a handful of late openings.

A promising move involving Tetteh and Boakye broke down, while Tetteh failed to make clean contact with Gideon Mensah’s free-kick delivery.

Afena-Gyan also missed the chance to pull one back as Ghana’s late pressure failed to alter the outcome.

The Black Stars finished with just two shots on target as Ivory Coast secured a convincing victory.

The result sends the Elephants to the top of Group C with three points, while Ghana remain bottom before Somalia and Gambia meet.

The Black Stars will now return home to face Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September, as they continue their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFCON after missing the previous tournament in Morocco.