Black Stars face AFCON survival battle at Essipon

Two defeats, six points adrift and the threat of missing a second successive continental showpiece have put Ghana on edge and turned today’s clash with Somalia at the Essipon Stadium into a must-win survival battle for a Black Stars side desperate to drag their faltering 2027 qualifying campaign back from the brink.

The harsh reality Ghanaians are struggling to come to terms with is that the Black Stars have forgotten how to win. Five competitive matches without victory since June 17, (four defeats, one draw) and an AFCON qualifying campaign already in serious trouble.

Yet, just when their continental ambitions appear to be slipping away, the football gods have offered them an extraordinary lifeline of two matches against lowly-rated Somalia, both on Ghanaian soil, to rediscover the winning habit and rescue their AFCON dream.

For a team that has not celebrated victory since Caleb Yirenkyi’s dramatic stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win over Panama at the 2026 World Cup in June, the double-header at the Essipon Sports Stadium in Sekondi could prove a blessing in disguise.

Since that memorable victory over Panama in Toronto, Ghana have drawn 0-0 with England, lost 2-1 to Croatia and 1-0 to Colombia at the World Cup, before suffering consecutive AFCON qualifying defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.

This afternoon’s opening encounter (kick-off is at 3 pm), followed by Monday’s return fixture at the same venue, therefore, offers the four-time African champions an opportunity to rebuild confidence, restore credibility and collect six desperately needed points against opponents who are also searching for their first victory in Group C.

Anything short of maximum points would leave Ghana’s hopes of avoiding a second successive AFCON absence in even greater jeopardy.

The pressure now falls on interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren, whose appointment following Carlos Queiroz’s departure has placed him in unfamiliar territory, with a task as urgent as it is unforgiving.

The Swede, who guided the Black Queens to bronze at the 2024 Women’s AFCON, must now engineer an immediate turnaround to defeat Somalia twice in five days, despite having barely enough time to impose a new tactical identity on the team.

Working alongside assistants Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, Björkegren’s priority must be restoring defensive organisation, midfield compactness and the game-management discipline that deserted Ghana against The Gambia.

The return of influential internationals who missed Ghana’s two qualifying matches provides considerable encouragement, but also removes excuses for another failure.

Captain Jordan Ayew, who scored his first Sheffield United goal against Charlton Athletic last weekend, must provide leadership and attacking purpose. Mohammed Kudus, returning after missing the World Cup through injury, is expected to supply the creativity and penetration Ghana have lacked.

Thomas Partey will be expected to take command of midfield, with Yirenkyi offering energy and progressive movement, while Daniel Kofi Kyereh’s return after four years provides another exciting option.

Defender Mohammed Salisu, back from a lengthy injury lay-off at AS Monaco, could strengthen a fragile backline alongside Jerome Opoku or Jonas Adjetey.

Home-based call-ups goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, Isaac Afful, Musa Hamzata, Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor increase competition, while England-based duo of Brandon Thomas-Asante and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku add attacking options as the team’s poster boy Antoine Semenyo remains unavailable through injury.

Thomas-Asante captured the determination in the Ghana camp, insisting the players are fully aware of the stakes and intent on seizing the opportunity to revive their faltering qualification campaign.

“We are not here to joke around or anything. We know we have to put our best foot forward and maximise this opportunity. You look around the squad, we’ve got the quality,” said the Coventry City forward yesterday.

“We want to give them [the fans] a show that everyone wants to see.”

And with Björkegren barely acquainted with his new squad, a tactical revolution is unrealistic. What Ghana desperately require against a Somalia side dominated by foreign-based players is defensive compactness, coordinated pressing, better protection against counter-attacks and, above all, the composure to control matches from winning positions.

Björkegren is equally conscious of the expectations surrounding his first assignment with the Black Stars and believes his players have the quality to deliver against Somalia today.

The Swede has made his attacking intentions clear, promising a side prepared to take the initiative, create opportunities and find the net.

“We want to play. We want to create chances. We want to move forward. We want to score goals,” he said.

Recalling the atmosphere he experienced during his time with the Black Queens, Björkegren expressed confidence that the Black Stars could produce an equally compelling performance and reward the home supporters.

“When I was here with the women’s team, it was a great atmosphere. I know we [Black Stars] have the potential to play good football and win the game,” he said yesterday in Sekondi ahead of today’s encounter.

Ghana cannot mistake superior individual quality, international clout and home advantage for guaranteed victory. Somalia, beaten 2-1 by The Gambia and 2-0 by Côte d’Ivoire, arrive without a point but with every incentive to frustrate their more illustrious opponents.

Captain Abdulsamed Abdullahi has expressed his side’s determination to secure a result, supported by foreign-based players, including Abdi Sabriye (Jaro, Finland), Osman Addo (Helsingborg, Sweden), Moussa Njie (Moss FK, Norway), Mustafa Al-Qaddal (Al-Hilal, Sudan) and Amgad Esam Gibrail Ibrahim (Al-Hilal, Sudan).

History favours Ghana, whose 5-0 victory over Somalia in Accra in November 2003 was memorable for a teenage Asamoah Gyan scoring on his international debut. But history offers little comfort to a side that recently squandered a two-goal advantage at home.

While the spotlight will inevitably fall on Björkegren, the senior players, led by Ayew, Partey and Kudus, must provide the leadership, discipline and match-winning authority that deserted Ghana in their opening qualifiers to claim the three points at stake today and make it back-to-back wins on Monday.