2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Ghana, a giant on the brink of collapse?

Ghana is going through another turbulent period. After missing out on the last Africa Cup of Nations, the Black Stars have had a very poor start to qualifying for the 2027 edition. Beaten by Ivory Coast (2-0), then overturned at home by Gambia (4-2) after having led by two goals, the Ghanaian national team remains without a single point after the first two matches.

These two defeats have already placed Jordan Ayew's teammates in a particularly precarious position. The loss against Gambia is all the more worrying as Ghana had taken the lead before collapsing in the second half. A few days later, Carlos Queiroz and the Ghanaian Football Association mutually agreed to end their collaboration. The Portuguese coach will have managed only two matches since his return to the bench.

A crisis that lasts

Ghana's current difficulties, however, did not begin with this campaign. While the Black Stars continue to qualify for major global competitions, their performances at the Africa Cup of Nations have become much more inconsistent.

At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Ghana exited the competition in the group stage, with two defeats and a draw. Two years later, in Ivory Coast, the Black Stars were again eliminated in the first round, after two draws and a loss. The losing streak continued as Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a first since 2004.

The start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations campaign has raised fears of another disastrous scenario. With zero points after two matches, Ghana will need to react quickly in their upcoming games, particularly against Somalia, Ivory Coast, and Gambia.

A past that demands a response

This situation contrasts sharply with the history of Ghanaian football. The Black Stars have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times, in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982. Ghana has also reached the final of the competition nine times, a record shared with Egypt.

For decades, Ghana has produced generations of iconic players, such as Abedi Pelé, Ibrahim Sunday, Karim Abdul Razak, Anthony Yeboah, and Samuel Kuffour. This rich history has long earned the Black Stars a special place in African football.

But today, the Ghanaian giant seems to have lost some of its stability. The hasty departure of Carlos Queiroz illustrates this instability on the bench once again. The Portuguese coach won only one of his seven matches in charge of the national team during his recent tenure.

Ghana must quickly break the deadlock

Despite this worrying situation, Ghana still has players capable of turning things around. But after two defeats in two matches, their margin for error is now limited.

For this historic giant of African football, the stakes go far beyond a simple qualifying campaign. After missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a second consecutive absence would be a stain on the Black Stars' history and would intensify questions surrounding the management and rebuilding of the national team.