Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has stated that Ivory Coast's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations victory was aided by mistakes made by the Black Stars. This analysis comes as Ghana prepares to face the reigning champions in their 2027 AFCON qualifying opener, with the team also navigating a challenging World Cup campaign where they sit third in their group with four points from three matches.
Okraku's comments were reported by GhanaWeb this week. He pointed directly to Ghana's dramatic 2-2 draw with Mozambique in the final group stage minutes of the 2023 tournament. "Ghana was on our way out of the group to make it to the knockout stage," Okraku said. "Then after four minutes, the score was 2-2 and Côte d’Ivoire, who were on their way home, found themselves back in the competition and they went all the way to become African champions."
How did Ghana's collapse change the tournament?
Ghana had been positioned to advance from their group at the 2023 AFCON before conceding twice in the final four minutes against Mozambique. That result eliminated the Black Stars at the group stage for the second consecutive tournament. More significantly, it provided a lifeline to Ivory Coast, who had been on the brink of elimination themselves. The Ivorians seized that second chance, progressing as one of the best third-place teams before mounting a memorable run to win the trophy in front of their home supporters in Abidjan.
Okraku acknowledged the quality of the eventual champions while framing their success within Ghana's failure. "Côte d’Ivoire have done well in the last few years," he noted. "They were one of those few countries that benefitted from some of the mistakes we made to become African champions." This direct link between Ghana's late defensive lapse and a rival's continental glory adds a painful layer to the Black Stars' recent tournament history.
What is Ghana's current form ahead of the rematch?
The context for these reflections is a difficult period for the national team. Ghana's World Cup qualifying campaign has been inconsistent, with a record of one win, one draw, and one loss from their first three games. Their recent form is a serious concern, having failed to win any of their last five matches. The sequence reads zero wins, one draw, and four losses, with the most recent result a 2-1 defeat to Croatia on June 27, 2026.
Offensively, the team has struggled, scoring just two goals while conceding the same number across their World Cup qualifiers. This leaves them with a zero goal difference. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on our standings and fixtures pages. The need for improvement is urgent as qualification for major tournaments hangs in the balance.
What does this mean for the upcoming qualifier?
Ghana and Ivory Coast are set to renew their rivalry immediately, drawn together in Group C for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Ghana's campaign begins with a tough away trip to face the champions. This fixture will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since the 2023 AFCON, and Okraku's comments will undoubtedly add extra spice to the encounter.
The GFA President's remarks serve as a public acknowledgment of a painful moment, but also as a motivational tool. Framing Ivory Coast's success as a consequence of Ghana's error establishes a clear narrative of redemption opportunity. Beating the team that capitalized on your failure would be a powerful statement. The current squad, detailed on our squad page, must now channel that history into a positive performance.
Ghana's immediate focus must shift from past regrets to present challenges. The World Cup qualifying table shows they cannot afford to dwell on 2023. With a critical double-header against Colombia and Croatia looming in the next window, every point is vital. The lessons from the AFCON collapse must be applied to avoid similar costly lapses. The path forward requires converting narrow losses into draws and draws into wins, starting with the daunting trip to Abidjan.
