Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has challenged the Black Stars to treat qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as their first trophy to win, insisting there can be no talk of continental glory until they secure their place at the tournament.
The Black Stars begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, with Queiroz demanding focus, discipline and a winning mentality from his squad.
For the Portuguese tactician, qualification is not merely a preliminary stage—it is the first major competition Ghana must conquer.
“We are here to play to win one specific competition, and all national teams at this moment have one specific competition called qualification. That’s the first cup that you have to win,” Queiroz said.
His comments come at a crucial moment for the Black Stars, who endured a disastrous 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign and failed to secure a place at the tournament in Morocco.
That disappointment has raised the stakes for Ghana’s latest qualification journey, with Queiroz returning for a second spell in charge and now tasked with restoring the Black Stars to the African football elite.
Tough Test in Bouaké
Ghana’s campaign begins with a demanding away fixture against Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday.
The Black Stars will then return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27, as they look to build momentum in Group C.
Ghana are drawn alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia, with the group offering little room for complacency.
Queiroz’s immediate objective is therefore straightforward: navigate the qualifying campaign successfully before the team can begin dreaming of lifting the AFCON trophy.
For a Ghana side desperate to make amends for missing the last tournament, the journey back to Africa’s biggest international stage starts in Bouaké.