Black Stars face Ivorian test in Bouaké as Kudus, Partey and six others withdraw from AFCON qualifier

The Black Stars of Ghana will commence their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign today in Bouaké facing an uphill battle, as Coach Carlos Queiroz must navigate a crucial Group C opener against Côte d'Ivoire without seven established international players.

The withdrawal of Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo, captain Jordan Ayew, Prince Adu Kwabena, Alidu Seidu and another player has significantly weakened Ghana's squad depth at a critical juncture in the qualification process. The timing of these absences has raised concerns within the football community, particularly given that most of the withdrawn players were actively involved in club fixtures over the weekend before pulling out of national team duties.

The severity of the missing personnel

The absence of this calibre of talent represents a substantial blow to Ghana's prospects. Kudus, operating as West Ham United's creative midfielder, has been instrumental in Ghana's attacking play, whilst Partey's midfield presence provides crucial defensive structure and experience. The loss of captain Jordan Ayew further strips away senior leadership from a squad already dealing with reduced quality on paper.

Without these experienced campaigners, younger players including Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Benjamin Tetteh, Felix Afena-Gyan and recently-added Mohammed Fuseini will bear considerably more responsibility. For these fringe players, this qualifier represents an invaluable opportunity to establish themselves within the Black Stars setup and earn regular selection moving forward.

Why it matters for Ghana

The withdrawals arrive at a particularly sensitive moment for Ghana's continental aspirations. The Black Stars' absence from the 2025 AFCON tournament has already damaged the nation's standing on the African stage, making a strong qualification campaign essential for restoring credibility. These large-scale withdrawals have intensified speculation about player commitment levels towards continental competition, with questions emerging regarding whether some Black Stars regulars are becoming selective about which fixtures merit their participation.

The Football Association and technical staff must urgently investigate the legitimacy of these withdrawals to establish whether genuine fitness concerns exist or whether a troubling pattern of player reluctance is developing. Such investigations could prove crucial in addressing what some observers view as an emerging culture of disengagement from AFCON obligations—a phenomenon that directly contributed to Ghana's 2025 tournament miss.

Tactical implications and the path forward

Without Partey anchoring midfield, Ghana's defensive stability becomes compromised whilst simultaneously limiting creative supply to attackers. Queiroz will likely adopt a cautious, balanced approach prioritising defensive organisation over attacking ambition. The midfield unit will require exceptional discipline to simultaneously shield the defence and support forward movements.

Ghana's attacking opportunities may depend heavily upon the pace and directness of Issahaku and Nuamah on the flanks, combined with quick counter-attacking transitions. The defensive line must remain particularly alert during the opening stages when Côte d'Ivoire will likely dominate possession at home.

Following today's encounter, Ghana returns to the Accra Sports Stadium on 29 September to face The Gambia—another fixture that cannot be underestimated given the competitive nature of Group C. Despite the adversity posed by these withdrawals, Coach Queiroz has expressed optimism that his available squad can secure a positive result and initiate the qualification campaign positively.

Ghana's determination to return to AFCON will be tested immediately in Bouaké, where the Black Stars must demonstrate that quality and commitment remain intact despite the significant personnel losses.