The qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begin tonight with Ivory Coast hosting Ghana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
Ivory Coast squad changes
Herve Renard's first Ivory Coast squad since returning to the national-team set-up has been shaped by several notable omissions. Amad Diallo, Evann Guessand and Omar Diakite are all absent, with Manchester United winger Amad Diallo ruled out through injury.
The Elephants still have plenty of familiar faces. Yahia Fofana starts in goal, Ousmane Diomande anchors the defence and Franck Kessie provides experience in midfield. Yan Diomande, as expected, is selected to lead the attack as he looks to rediscover his best form after an indifferent start to life at Real Madrid.
Ghana missing key players
Ghana have also been forced to make changes. Head coach Carlos Queiroz will be without captain Jordan Ayew, Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo and Tottenham midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus' absence is particularly understandable given his recent injury history. The midfielder has only recently returned from a lengthy hamstring problem which kept him out for much of the second half of the 2025-26 season and ultimately ruled him out of the World Cup, and opted to withdraw from international duty.
There is some positive news for the Black Stars, with Alexander Djiku, Nathaniel Adjei, Ibrahim Sulemana, Felix Afena-Gyan and Ibrahim Osman returning to the squad.
Confirmed lineups
Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Konan, Ndicka, Diomande, Zogbe; Sangare, Yacoulye, Kessie; Pepe, Bonny, Diomande. Substitutes: Lafont, Kone, Agbadou, Toure, Oulai, Tape, Gboho, Doue, Ouattara, Diaz, Kone, Fofana, Wahi, Zabi.
Ghana XI: Ati-Zigi; Oppong, Opoku, Djiku, Mensah; Sibo, Yirenkyi; Bonsu, Nuamah, Fatawu; Thomas-Asante. Substitutes: Boakye, Asare, Tetteh, Annan, Gyan, Gadafi, Rahim, Sulemana, Adjetey, Anang, Yeboah, Donkor.
Both sides head into the international window with important players missing, but there remains plenty of established quality in each squad. Ivory Coast will look to Kessie and Diomande for control in midfield and defence, while Ghana's attacking threat could come through Issahaku, Thomas-Asante and Nuamah.
The match kicks off at 8pm BST on Thursday, September 24, 2026. UK TV coverage is yet to be confirmed.
