Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku says the Black Stars have made significant progress and will head into their crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire with renewed confidence.
The four-time African champions travel to face the Ivorians at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on 24 September, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
Speaking to 3Sports, Okraku said Ghana’s performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup showed that the team had become more organised and capable of competing with the world’s best, despite entering the tournament as the lowest-ranked side.
“Côte d’Ivoire are a very good team. I think it will be a very interesting game,” he said.
“What I also know is that Ghana showed a lot of organisation in the last World Cup, and showed that we are improving and that we can compete at the highest level.”
Okraku argued that Ghana’s rise in the world rankings after the tournament reflected the team’s progress on the international stage.
“Going into the World Cup as the least-ranked team, we came out as the 24th-ranked team, and that should tell you that Ghana has made progress at the Mundial,” he said.
The GFA president also believes the Black Stars have overcome the mentality that previously hindered their performances in major matches.
“That psychological block of losing games, I think, doesn’t exist anymore within this team,” he added.
Okraku is convinced Ghana will travel to Bouaké with belief and determination as they seek a positive result against one of Africa’s strongest sides.
“We will go to Côte d’Ivoire with youthful confidence, and we will be competitive,” he said.
Ghana have been drawn in Group C of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia as they pursue a place at the continental tournament.
