2027 AFCON Q: Ghana vs Somalia preview, Team news, predicted lineups, key battles and prediction

The Black Stars will be aiming to breathe new life into their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign when they host Somalia in the first of a crucial Group C double-header at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday.

After suffering defeats in their opening two qualifiers, Ghana know that anything less than victory could leave their hopes of reaching the 2027 AFCON hanging by a thread.

Interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren takes charge of the senior national team for the first time following the departure of Carlos Queiroz and faces immediate pressure to deliver a winning start.

Ghana’s qualifying campaign has been far from ideal. The four-time African champions opened with a 2-0 defeat away to Côte d’Ivoire before surrendering a two-goal lead in a dramatic 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia.

Those disappointing results have left the Black Stars bottom of Group C without a point and extended their winless run in AFCON qualifiers to eight matches.

The poor run follows Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco—the country’s first absence from the continental tournament since 2004.

Bjorkegren’s immediate task is to restore confidence and put Ghana’s qualification campaign back on track with consecutive victories over Somalia.

Like Ghana, Somalia also head into Thursday’s encounter desperate for a positive result.

The Ocean Stars lost 2-1 to The Gambia in their opening qualifier before suffering a narrow 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire, where they held the African champions for over 80 minutes before conceding twice late in the game.

Those performances have shown that Somalia are capable of troubling stronger opponents, and Ghana will be wary of underestimating Yusuf Ali Nur’s side.

Bjorkegren has recalled several experienced players for the must-win fixtures, including captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Mohammed Salisu and Alidu Seidu.

The squad also features five Ghana Premier League players—Benjamin Asare, Musa Hamzata, Isaac Afful, Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor—who will be hoping to make an impact on the international stage.

However, Ghana will be without injured Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, while Jan Gyamerah also misses out through injury.

For Somalia, striker Bilal Njie remains the key attacking threat after his impressive performances in the opening qualifiers.

Much of Ghana’s attacking responsibility is expected to fall on Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew and Brandon Thomas-Asante as the Black Stars attempt to break down a disciplined Somali defence.

Defensively, Ghana must also remain alert to Somalia’s pace on the counterattack, particularly through Bilal Njie, who has been one of the East Africans’ standout performers.

Ghana: Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Jerome Opoku, Salisu, Gideon Mensah; Thomas Partey, Caleb Yirenkyi; Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku; Brandon Thomas-Asante.

Somalia: Ibrahim Ahmed Hussein; Mohamed Mohamed, Abel Gigli, Ali Omar, Faisal Othman; Mohamed Omar, Abdi Sharif, Mukhtar Suleiman; Bilal Njie, Hassan Addo, Abdi Hassan.

Ghana enter the fixture under enormous pressure, but the return of several experienced players and the arrival of Björkegren should provide renewed confidence.

Somalia have shown resilience in their opening matches and are unlikely to make life easy for the Black Stars. However, Ghana’s superior quality and home advantage should prove decisive.