Can Ghana frustrate Renard’s new-look Elephants? Ivory Coast vs Ghana prediction — 24.09.2026
Ivory Coast and Ghana meet at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Thursday, September 24, at 19:00 GMT, in the opening round of Group C of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Elephants will play their first competitive match since Hervé Renard returned as head coach, while Ghana arrive with Carlos Queiroz continuing in charge of the Black Stars. Both teams will be eager to start their qualifying campaign with a positive result, but this West African encounter could be decided by fine margins.
Ivory Coast: a new coach and changes in attack
Ivory Coast reached the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, beating Ecuador 1-0 and Curaçao 2-0, while losing 2-1 to Germany and Norway. The Elephants scored five goals across those four matches and found the net more than once only against Curaçao. They have attacking quality, but their recent results do not suggest that a high-scoring performance is guaranteed against strong opposition.
Renard has selected eight newcomers in his initial 25-man squad. Experienced players such as Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré and Nicolas Pépé remain available, alongside attacking options including Elye Wahi, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Yan Diomandé. However, Amad Diallo and Wilfried Singo are absent through injury, while defender Guéla Doué sustained a calf injury after being named in the original squad. Establishing attacking combinations may take time as Renard begins his second spell with the national team.
Ghana: defensive resilience and the return of Kudus
Ghana’s World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the knockout stage, following a 1-0 win over Panama, a goalless draw with England and a 2-1 loss to Croatia. The Black Stars conceded just three goals in four matches, keeping two clean sheets. Their ability to stay compact against England offers a useful reference point before a demanding away fixture.
Queiroz has named a 24-man squad featuring Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku. Mohammed Kudus also returns to the national team after an injury absence that kept him out of the World Cup, although his inclusion in the squad does not guarantee a starting place. Ghana possess options for quick attacks, but their first priority in Bouaké is likely to be limiting space for the hosts.
Match facts and prediction
Ivory Coast scored no more than once in three of their four World Cup matches, while Ghana conceded no more than once in three of theirs. The Elephants should enjoy periods of territorial control at home, but Ghana have shown that they can defend patiently and make opponents work for clear chances.
Renard’s side have the players to secure a narrow victory, yet their reshaped attack and Ghana’s recent defensive record make two or more Ivorian goals a demanding target. Rather than relying on the match winner, the more appealing selection is for the hosts to score no more than once.
Prediction: Ivory Coast under 1.5 team goals.
