Black StarsBlack Stars assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko says Ghana must prioritise their upcoming double-header against Somalia as they seek to revive their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.Ghana are scheduled to face Somalia in back-to-back Group C encounters later this month, with the two matches offering an opportunity to get their qualification campaign back on track.The four-time African champions have endured a difficult start to the qualifiers, losing their opening two matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.The Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in Bouake before recording a shock 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium, despite establishing a two-goal advantage.With Ghana rooted to the bottom of Group C without a point, Tanko insists the immediate priority is to secure maximum points against Somalia before turning attention to their remaining fixtures.”We cannot afford to look too far ahead without first taking care of the immediate task,” he told Joy Sports.”The Somalia matches are our priority. If we can get the right results and build momentum, we can approach the next qualifiers with renewed confidence,” he added.Ghana will host Somalia in the first encounter on Thursday, November 12, before the two sides meet again on November 16. Both fixtures are expected to take place in Ghana.The interim technical team, led by Kim Lars Bjrkegren, is expected to announce its squad this week as preparations intensify for the crucial double-header.The Black Stars are under mounting pressure to turn their fortunes around after missing the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.Ghana endured a disastrous qualifying campaign for that tournament, finishing bottom of their group without recording a single victory.They will be determined to avoid another disappointing outcome and keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON alive.
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AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Black Stars must remain focused on Somalia games, says Ibrahim Tanko
