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Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku says the Black Stars will approach their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast with confidence, insisting the team no longer carries the psychological burden of past defeats.
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Ghana are set to face their West African neighbours in what promises to be a highly competitive qualifying encounter in September, with the fixture expected to test the Black Stars against one of the continent’s strongest sides.
However, Okraku believes Ghana have moved beyond the mentality that previously affected the team in difficult matches.
“That psychological block of losing games doesn't exist anymore within this team. We will go to Cote d' Ivoire in full confidence and be competitive,” Okraku said in an exclusive interview with 3Sports.
The GFA president's comments come after Ghana failed to qualify for the last AFCON but made it to the 2026 World Cup knockout stage.
Ghana lost the 2015 AFCON final to Ivory Coast in a tense penalty shootout that saw the Black Stars squander an early advantage after the Ivorians missed their first two kicks.
Okraku, however, believes those experiences have helped shape a more resilient side ahead of the next phase of the national team’s development.
The trip to Ivory Coast will present a significant challenge, particularly against an Elephants side that have enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
Ivory Coast won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil and have established themselves as one of Africa’s leading footballing nations.
Despite that record, Okraku is confident Ghana can compete on their opponents’ turf and believes the Black Stars will not be intimidated by their recent history.
The upcoming qualifier therefore offers Ghana an opportunity to demonstrate the progress made under their current setup while also strengthening their position in the race for qualification.
