Can the Black Stars Revive Ghana's Hopes of Qualifying for AFCON 2027?

It is a familiar but painful situation for Ghanaian football fans: two games played, zero points and bottom of the table.

After failing to qualify for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, marking Ghana's first absence from the tournament since 2004, the Black Stars have started their campaign for AFCON 2027 even worse.

A 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in Bouaké, followed by a shocking 4-2 collapse against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium after taking a 2-0 lead, has left the four-time African champions with a mountain to climb in Group C.

Now, the question on everyone's lips is: Can the Black Stars still revive Ghana's hopes?

The Maths Is Simple, But Brutal

Ghana currently sits at the bottom of Group C, while Ivory Coast and The Gambia both have six points from two games. The situation means Ghana will need to win all its remaining matches to stand a realistic chance of qualification.

The challenge is made even harder by the team's recent form. Ghana has not won an AFCON qualifying match since September 2023 and failed to win a single game during the qualification campaign for the last edition of the tournament.

However, despite the poor start, there is still belief within the football fraternity that qualification is mathematically possible if the team can quickly turn its form around and assemble its strongest available squad for the remaining fixtures.

The Ghana Football Association and the Ministry have made changes to the technical team following the poor start, bringing in an interim setup led by Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, assisted by Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, with Fatawu Dauda serving as goalkeepers' coach.

Their first assignment is crucial: a double-header against Somalia on November 12 and 16, with both matches expected to be played in Ghana.

The new technical team's immediate focus will be to secure maximum points from the two matches against Somalia and build momentum ahead of the final two qualifiers.

Six points from the Somalia games would take Ghana to six points, putting the team back in contention ahead of the final two matches: hosting Ivory Coast and travelling to The Gambia.

Ghana must also assemble its strongest available squad, including in-form players capable of making an immediate impact.

Throwing away a two-goal lead at home against The Gambia exposed the team's defensive and psychological weaknesses. Ghana has conceded six goals in two matches and must tighten up defensively.

With 24 AFCON appearances, five FIFA World Cup appearances and four African titles, the Black Stars have a rich footballing history. However, after missing AFCON 2025 and now sitting at the bottom of their qualifying group, the team needs the support of its fans more than ever.

The Essipong Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium must once again become fortresses as Ghana prepares to host Somalia.

AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking a historic East African edition of the tournament. For Ghana, a country that once dominated African football, missing two consecutive AFCON tournaments would be unthinkable.

The Black Stars have one path left: win all four remaining matches. It starts with Somalia. It will not be easy, but in Ghanaian football, miracles have happened before.

Will the miracle begin on November 12?