Ghana will be chasing history today (Thursday) as they target their first ever victory over rivals Côte d’Ivoire in the AFCON qualifiers when both sides meet in the 2027 opener in Bouaké. Today’s Group C clash at the Stade de la Paix is actually the third time both nations have been drawn together in qualifiers — and Ghana have never won a qualifier against the Elephants.
The record in AFCON qualifiers is heavily in favour of Côte d’Ivoire, as the three-time continental champions have won three and drawn one of their four past meetings. Both teams first clashed in the AFCON qualifiers in the second round for the 1974 edition on October 1973 in Accra which the Ivorians won 3-0. In the reverse fixture played the following month in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire triumphed 1-0.
During the race for the 1986 AFCON ticket, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire were drawn against each other in the second round, with the latter once again coming out tops. Also Read: World Cup 2026: Ghana Were Excellent —Rooney Praises Black Stars After Draw With England The first leg was took place in Abidjan on August 1985 with the Elephants securing a 2-0 win before holding Ghana to a 0-0 draw in Kumasi in the second leg.
Overall, Ghana have played Côte d’Ivoire more than 36 times since 1965 with wins at the AFCON finals (1965, 1968, 1996, 2008), but never in the qualifying series and Carlos Queiroz’s side will hope to break the jinx today.
Meanwhile, The Black Stars arrive depleted — without Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey — and on the back of failing to qualify for the 2025 edition, while Côte d’Ivoire, now under returning coach Hervé Renard, will have home advantage and the likes of Franck Kessié, Nicolas Pépé