Ghana host The Gambia at Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday 29 September 2026 at 4pm local time (16:00 GMT) in Matchday 2 of 2027 AFCON qualifying Group C. The Black Stars need a response after a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, while the Scorpions arrive with three points from a 2-1 win over Somalia.
This is the first competitive senior meeting between the two West African sides. Previous encounters were friendlies, with Ghana winning three and drawing one. The last meeting was in 1993.
Group C after Matchday 1
Côte d’Ivoire sit top with three points after beating Ghana. The Gambia are level on points following their home win. Ghana and Somalia have zero points. The top two from the group of four qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. Ghana missed the 2025 edition in Morocco.
A Ghana win would put them on three points, level with The Gambia. A second loss would leave the Black Stars six points adrift after only two games, with home-and-away ties against Somalia and a return against Côte d’Ivoire still to come.
Ghana under Carlos Queiroz
The Black Stars were disjointed in Bouaké. Malick Yalcouyé scored just before half-time and Franck Kessié converted a penalty. Ghana offered little attacking threat until late substitutions.
Key absences have defined the window: Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and others were unavailable for the first match. Alexander Djiku picked up an injury against Côte d’Ivoire and is expected to miss this game. Queiroz called in extra players including Jonas Adjetey, Ebenezer Annan, Rockson Yeboah, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan.
Midfielder Kwasi Sibo publicly called on fans and teammates to regroup. Home support at the recently CAF-approved Accra Sports Stadium, back in use after renovations, is expected to matter. Preview line-ups have pointed toward Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal, a back line featuring players such as Oppong, Adjei or Opoku and Mensah, midfield with Yirenkyi and Sibo, and attack options including Kamaldeen Sulemana, Thomas-Asante, Ernest Nuamah and Afena-Gyan.
The Gambia’s position
Jonathan McKinstry’s Scorpions started well. Ebrima Colley scored from the penalty spot against Somalia; Muhammed Badamosi got the winner after Somalia equalised. Yankuba Minteh is among those unavailable. Assistant coach Abdou Jammeh said the available squad is focused after arriving in Accra and preparing for several days. Possible Gambia shape features goalkeeper Gaye, defenders including Sanyang, Colley, Bojang and Saine, midfielders Bajo and Barry, and attackers Fadera, Ebrima Colley, Joseph Ceesay and Abdoulie Ceesay.
The Gambia sit second in the group and will look to frustrate Ghana and hit on the counter.
Venue and atmosphere
Accra Sports Stadium regained CAF certification after renovation work by the National Sports Authority. Media accreditation was tight, with hundreds of journalists approved from a large applicant pool. Pre-match press conferences and open training sessions were scheduled for Monday 28 September.
What to watch
Ghana must show more attacking intent and organisation than in Bouaké. Queiroz is under pressure to deliver a result and a performance that reassures supporters after the opening defeat and a World Cup campaign that ended in the last 32. The Gambia will treat this as a chance to take points from a historically stronger neighbour on the road.
A home win would restart Ghana’s campaign. Anything less keeps the Black Stars chasing from the outset of a six-game group. The next fixtures after this window include a friendly against Morocco on 4 October, then November qualifiers against Somalia.
