Black Stars face Ivorian test as injuries force major squad changes

The Black Stars of Ghana face a daunting opening assignment in the race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when they travel to Bouaké on Thursday to confront Côte d’Ivoire in a heavyweight West African encounter that could immediately set the tone for their qualifying campaign. The match at the Stade de la Paix brings together two former African champions, but Ghana will enter the contest under circumstances that have changed significantly since Carlos Queiroz announced his original squad. The Black Stars have been hit by a series of player absences, with two of their most prominent attacking names, Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo, now confirmed unavailable for the encounter. Kudus, who had initially been named in the squad after returning from a lengthy injury absence, subsequently opted out to concentrate on completing his recovery and regaining full fitness.

Semenyo’s late withdrawal adds another major blow to Ghana’s attacking options, leaving Queiroz to rethink his plans for an encounter in which the Black Stars will need both attacking pace and creativity to trouble a strong Ivorian side. The situation has compelled the Ghana technical team to bring in nine additional players to reinforce the squad, giving several players an opportunity to step into the international spotlight at a particularly demanding moment. The changes mean Ghana’s preparation has been less than straightforward, but they also present an intriguing question: can the Black Stars demonstrate enough depth and collective strength to compensate for the absence of some of their biggest names? Queiroz will have to find the right combination from the experienced players available to him and the fresh faces brought into the squad. Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Ibrahim Osman…