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Bouaké, Ivory Coast — Ivory Coast, Ghana Open AFCON Qualifying
Ivory Coast plays host to Ghana on Thursday in Bouaké, opening the qualifying path to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, according to Al Jazeera. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. local time, or 19:00 GMT, at Stade de Bouaké.
The game opens Group C of qualifying for AFCON 2027, which will be held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Al Jazeera's coverage plan calls for live build-up starting at 16:00 GMT ahead of a text commentary stream of the match itself.
When and where is the match being played?
Kickoff is set for Thursday, September 24, at 7 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) at Stade de Bouaké in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, per Al Jazeera's match preview. The outlet says its sport desk will carry live build-up from 16:00 GMT before switching to text commentary once play begins.
Who else is in the qualifying group?
Group C includes four teams: Ivory Coast, Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia, according to Al Jazeera. After Thursday's opener, the next round of group matches sends Ghana to host The Gambia on Tuesday while Ivory Coast travels to face Somalia.
What does Ivory Coast expect from this campaign?
Ivory Coast enters qualifying with a clear goal: win the 2027 tournament outright, Al Jazeera reports. That target comes despite a round-of-32 exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026, where Ivory Coast lost to Norway.
The team is now led by Herve Renard, back for a second stint in charge after replacing Emerse Fae following the World Cup exit. Renard previously managed Ivory Coast from 2014 to 2015 and led the team to the AFCON title in 2015 before immediately departing for French Ligue 1 club Lille, according to the report.
Renard, 57, has won AFCON twice — once with Ivory Coast in 2015 and once with Zambia in 2012, per Al Jazeera. His coaching résumé also includes stints with Morocco, Tunisia (a last-minute call-up ahead of World Cup 2026) and Saudi Arabia, where he led the Saudis to a group-stage win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
AFCON qualifier: numbers to know
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT), Thursday, September 24, 2026
- Venue: Stade de Bouaké, Bouaké, Ivory Coast
- Renard's AFCON titles: two — Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015)
- Renard's age: 57
Which players lead Ivory Coast's squad?
Al Jazeera describes Ivory Coast as still a "force to be reckoned with" even without a superstar on the level of Didier Drogba, who starred in the team's 2015 title run. Real Madrid forward Yan Diomande is described as "the shining light of African football" after his move to the Spanish club from RB Leipzig in Germany, per the outlet.
Former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, now at Atalanta in Italy's Serie A, is named as arguably the next biggest name in the current squad. Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pépé, now with Villarreal in Spain, is described as rebuilding his career after his run at Arsenal did not work out as hoped following his move from French club Lille.
Other named players include Ibrahim Sangaré, a standout for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League, and Manchester United's Amad Diallo, according to Al Jazeera's preview.
What happens next in Group C?
After Thursday's opener in Bouaké, the qualifying schedule moves quickly:
- Thursday, September 24: Ivory Coast hosts Ghana in Bouaké (7 p.m. local / 19:00 GMT)
- Tuesday (following week): Ghana hosts The Gambia
- Tuesday (following week): Ivory Coast travels to face Somalia
The report describes Ghana as a "depleted" side heading into the opener, though Al Jazeera's preview does not detail specific absences beyond that characterization.
For fans tracking the match, Al Jazeera says its sport desk will stream build-up coverage starting at 16:00 GMT, two hours before kickoff, followed by text commentary through the final whistle.
FAQ
Readers with follow-up questions on the matchup can find answers below, based on details confirmed in Al Jazeera's report.
Questions
When is the Ivory Coast vs Ghana AFCON qualifier?
The match kicks off Thursday, September 24, at 7 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) at Stade de Bouaké in Bouaké, Ivory Coast, according to Al Jazeera.
Who else is in Ivory Coast and Ghana's qualifying group?
Group C also includes The Gambia and Somalia. After the opener, Ghana hosts The Gambia and Ivory Coast travels to Somalia the following matchday, per Al Jazeera.
Who coaches Ivory Coast heading into qualifying?
Herve Renard, who previously led Ivory Coast to the 2015 AFCON title and Zambia to the 2012 title, returned to the Ivory Coast job after the team's round-of-32 World Cup exit, Al Jazeera reports.