The Black Stars of Ghana have been placed in Group C alongside Gambia, Somalia, and Côte d’Ivoire for the qualifying campaign of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the ‘Pamoja’.
The four-time African champions face a difficult challenge as they seek a return to the continental stage after failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
The qualification campaign for the tournament, which will be hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, features 48 nations divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two sides progressing to the finals.
The opening two matchdays are scheduled to take place during the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6, 2026, before Matchdays 3 and 4 are played between November 9 and 17, 2026.
The final two rounds of fixtures will then be held from March 22 to 30, 2027, when the qualification line-up for the tournament is expected to be finalised.
With home-and-away fixtures spread across several months, away points, goal difference, and consistency are expected to play a decisive role in determining qualification.
Ghana is expected to face a sterner test against Gambia and the Ivory Coast, as some view Somalia as the outsiders in the group.
For the Black Stars, qualification is now about more than simply reaching another edition of the Africa Cup of Nations — it is about restoring belief after one of the most disappointing periods in the country’s football history.
After qualification is secured, the Black Stars will aim to end their over 40-year AFCON trophy drought, having won the last trophy in 1982.
