2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Black Stars arrive in Bouaké ahead of Ivory Coast clash

Ghana's Black Stars have arrived in Bouaké ahead of their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ivory Coast on Thursday.

The team began preparations in Accra on Monday, holding their first training session at the Accra Sports Stadium before completing their work in the capital on Tuesday evening.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz oversaw the final training session in Accra, with 18 players taking part, according to the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

It remains unclear how many members of the squad have joined the team in Ivory Coast ahead of the Group C encounter.

The Black Stars are scheduled to hold their final training session at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Wednesday evening, 24 hours before the match.

Ghana will be without several key players for the opening qualifier, with Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei and Alidu Seidu unavailable because of injury or personal reasons.

The absences have prompted Queiroz to make changes to his squad, with Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan and Jonas Adjetey brought into the group.

Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have also received their first senior call-ups as Ghana prepare for the start of their qualifying campaign.

Following the trip to Bouaké, Ghana will return home to face Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.

The four-time African champions are attempting to return to the continental tournament after failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

That failure ended Ghana's run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the tournament.

Queiroz's side will then round off the international window with a friendly against Morocco in Tangier on 4 October as preparations continue for the remainder of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.