By The Black Stars return to action next month with a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Somalia, and after the way the campaign has started, nothing short of six points will do.
Black Stars next match
Ghana vs Somalia
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 5:00pm Ghana time (GMT)
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
2027 AFCON Qualifiers, Group C, Matchday 3
The return leg follows four days later, on Sunday, November 15, 2026, also at 5:00pm Ghana time. Somalia, who play their home games outside the country, have chosen the Accra Sports Stadium for their home games, which means the Black Stars will play both legs in Accra. In the words of the GFA, “both matches will be played in Accra, home and away.” Kick-off times are as published in the CAF schedule and will be confirmed by the GFA closer to the day.
This page is updated every time the Black Stars have a game, with the date, kick-off time in Ghana time, venue, squad news and how the group is shaping up.
Why the Somalia games are a must-win
Ghana sit bottom of Group C with zero points from two matches. The Black Stars lost 2–0 to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24, then suffered a shock 4–2 defeat at the hands of The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29. Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia both have six points, Somalia and Ghana none.
Only the top two in each group qualify for the finals in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, so the arithmetic is simple. Ghana must beat Somalia twice in November to stay in the race, and then take something from Côte d’Ivoire at home and The Gambia away in March. Drop points against Somalia and a second straight AFCON without the Black Stars becomes a real possibility, barely two years after the embarrassment of missing Morocco 2025. The interim team will be watching the Ghana Premier League closely for home-based players, with Hearts of Oak, Medeama and Samartex all flying this season.
2027 AFCON Qualifiers, Group C standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Côte d’Ivoire | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | The Gambia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | Somalia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −3 | 0 |
| 4 | Ghana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −4 | 0 |
Results so far: Côte d’Ivoire 2–0 Ghana (Sept 24); The Gambia 2–1 Somalia (Sept 25); Côte d’Ivoire 2–0 Somalia (Sept 29); Ghana 2–4 The Gambia (Sept 29).
Who is coaching the Black Stars?
Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren will lead the Black Stars on an interim basis for the Somalia games. The Swede heads an interim technical team announced on October 16 by the GFA, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Black Stars Head Coach Search Committee, with Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram as assistant coaches and Fatawu Dauda as goalkeepers’ coach. The arrangement covers the November window only.
The post has been vacant since the beginning of October, when Carlos Queiroz and the GFA parted ways by mutual agreement barely a month after the Portuguese returned for a second spell. Queiroz had first taken charge in April, after Otto Addo was sacked on the back of the 5–1 and 2–1 friendly defeats to Austria and Germany. He led Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, where the Black Stars beat Panama 1–0, held England to a goalless draw, lost 2–1 to Croatia and went out in the round of 32 to Colombia, and resigned after the tournament, only to return on September 3. The two defeats in September ended that second coming.
The search for a permanent coach is being handled by a five-member committee chaired by former GFA vice-president Fred Pappoe, with Anthony Baffoe, Agbesi Dzakpasu, Stephen Appiah and Faisal Chibsah as members. Applications closed on October 15, and the committee is expected to make its final recommendation after the November window.
Morocco friendly called off
The Black Stars were due to face Morocco in a friendly in Tangier on October 4, but the game was called off in the aftermath of the Gambia defeat and the coaching upheaval, with the Atlas Lions playing Mali instead. Ghana therefore go into the Somalia games having not played since September 29.
Black Stars fixtures 2026/27
| Date | Fixture | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Nov 11, 2026, 5:00pm | Ghana vs Somalia | AFCON 2027Q, MD3 | Accra Sports Stadium |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026, 5:00pm | Somalia vs Ghana | AFCON 2027Q, MD4 | Accra Sports Stadium |
| March 2027 window | Ghana vs Côte d’Ivoire | AFCON 2027Q, MD5 | Accra (TBC) |
| March 2027 window | The Gambia vs Ghana | AFCON 2027Q, MD6 | TBC |
Kick-off times are Ghana time (GMT). The March dates will be added once CAF confirms the exact days.
When is the Black Stars’ next match?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026, against Somalia at the Accra Sports Stadium, kick-off 5:00pm Ghana time. The reverse fixture is on Sunday, November 15 at the same venue.
Can Ghana still qualify for AFCON 2027?
Yes. There are four games left and 12 points to play for. Six points from Somalia would take Ghana to six, level with where Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia are now, before the two of them play each other twice in November. The Black Stars would then need to beat Côte d’Ivoire in Accra and avoid defeat away to The Gambia in March.
Where can I watch Ghana vs Somalia?
Broadcast details for the November games have not been announced. This page will be updated with the TV and streaming options the moment the GFA confirms them.
When is AFCON 2027?
The tournament is scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Twenty-four teams will take part, and the top two from each qualifying group go through.
Also on Early Morning Info
Sources: Ghana Football Association statements of October 11 and October 16, 2026; CAF AFCON 2027 qualifying schedule; Citi Sports, MyJoyOnline, Graphic Online and GBC reports. Last updated Monday, October 19, 2026.
