Sports
Ghana’s AFCON 2027 Campaign Faces Early Test After Gambia’s Victory
By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | 26 September 2026 | Sports
Ghana’s route to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations has become an early test of resilience after The Gambia defeated Somalia 2–1 in their opening Group C qualifier on Friday.
The result came a day after Ghana suffered a 2–0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, leaving the Black Stars without a point after the first round of matches. The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire both have three points.
Ghana’s Black Stars Face Early AFCON Qualification Test
Gambia strike late to secure three points
The Gambia made the most of their return to home competition at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Ebrima Colley opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. Somalia, however, stayed in the contest and eventually found an equaliser through Bilal Njie in the 72nd minute.
The hosts responded strongly. Substitute Muhammed Badamosi restored The Gambia’s lead in the 83rd minute, converting from a pass by Suleiman Camara. The late goal secured three points for the Scorpions.
The victory was particularly significant because it marked The Gambia’s return to competitive football at the Independence Stadium in front of home supporters after several years away from the venue.
Gambia Celebrate Winning Start Against Somalia
Ghana now faces The Gambia in Accra
The result sets up an important Group C meeting between Ghana and The Gambia on Tuesday, 29 September, with the Black Stars hosting the Scorpions in Accra.
CAF’s published schedule lists the Ghana–Gambia fixture for 16:00 GMT on Matchday 2.
Ghana entered the qualifiers with a difficult assignment against Côte d’Ivoire and ultimately lost 2–0. That result means the Black Stars will be seeking their first points when they face a Gambian side that already has three points on the board.
Group C after Matchday 1
| Team | Points | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Côte d’Ivoire | 3 | Beat Ghana 2–0 |
| The Gambia | 3 | Beat Somalia 2–1 |
| Ghana | 0 | Lost to Côte d’Ivoire 0–2 |
| Somalia | 0 | Lost to The Gambia 1–2 |
The table reflects results from the opening round of Group C matches.
Ghana Prepare for Crucial Group C Clash in Accra
A different challenge for the Black Stars
Ghana’s immediate task is not simply to recover from the opening defeat but to prevent the early results from creating a significant points gap.
A victory over The Gambia would put Ghana on three points and bring them level with their opponents after two matches. The Gambia, meanwhile, will arrive in Accra having already demonstrated that they can collect points under pressure.
The match also gives Ghana an opportunity to respond after a difficult opening performance against Côte d’Ivoire.
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz named a 24-man squad for the opening qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, with Mohammed Kudus among the players returning to the squad.
Qualification race is only beginning
The early Group C standings should be viewed in context. The teams have played only one match each, and the qualification campaign consists of multiple rounds.
CAF says the 2027 AFCON finals will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. The qualifying group stage began with Matchdays 1 and 2 scheduled between September and October 2026.
The three East African hosts have automatic qualification, while the remaining qualifying places are determined through the qualification process.
What the Ghana–Gambia match could clarify
Tuesday’s encounter will provide a clearer picture of how the two sides have responded to their opening fixtures.
For Ghana, the match offers a chance to put the Côte d’Ivoire defeat behind them and open their points account. For The Gambia, it is an opportunity to build on Friday’s victory and strengthen their position.
The outcome will not decide Group C by itself, but it will shape the early standings and the pressure surrounding the teams as the qualification schedule develops.
Independent view
The available results establish one clear fact: Ghana has started the qualification campaign without a point, while The Gambia has three after beating Somalia. That makes the upcoming meeting in Accra an important early fixture, although substantial qualification matches remain.
The Gambia’s 2–1 victory does not by itself determine Ghana’s eventual qualification prospects. It does, however, mean that the Black Stars enter the next match needing to respond to their opening defeat while facing an opponent that already has a win behind it.