AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Black Stars must rediscover belief ahead of Somalia double-header, says Ibrahim Tanko

Ibrahim TankoBlack Stars assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko says restoring collective belief and instilling a sense of responsibility among the players will be key to reviving Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.Ghana are preparing for a crucial Group C double-header against Somalia later this month, with the two encounters offering an opportunity to get their qualification campaign back on track.The four-time African champions have endured a difficult start to the qualifiers, suffering consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.Those results have left the Black Stars bottom of Group C without a point, putting them under considerable pressure to secure maximum points from their upcoming fixtures.Despite the disappointing start, Tanko believes Ghana possess enough quality to turn their fortunes around but insists the players must develop a stronger sense of collective responsibility.”Ghana has a very good squad, with quality players who can compete,” he told Joy Sports.”What matters is getting everyone to believe in the collective objective, understanding the responsibility of wearing the national colours and translating our potential into performances on the pitch.”Ghana will host Somalia in the first encounter on Thursday, November 12, before the two sides meet again on November 16. Both matches are expected to be played in Ghana.The interim technical team, led by Kim Lars Bjrkegren, is expected to announce its squad this week as preparations gather momentum ahead of the decisive double-header.The Black Stars are desperate to secure a return to the continental showpiece after missing the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.Ghana endured a disastrous qualifying campaign for the previous tournament, finishing bottom of their group without recording a single victory.With the 2027 edition set to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the Black Stars cannot afford further setbacks if they are to keep their qualification hopes alive.For Tanko and the interim technical team, the immediate priority is to rebuild confidence, strengthen the team’s collective mentality and ensure Ghana’s quality is reflected in their performances on the pitch.



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