Ghanaian football fans in Keta in the Volta Region have called on the Black Stars to quickly put their opening-day defeat to Ivory Coast behind them and respond with a victory against Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The Black Stars began their Group C campaign on a disappointing note after losing 2-0 to the Ivorians in Ivory Coast, leaving Ghana bottom of the group on goal difference.
Despite the setback, the fans believe the result should serve as a wake-up call for the team ahead of its next qualifier against Somalia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 30.
Mr Raymond Kpodovia, a Black Stars supporter, said the defeat should not undermine Ghana’s prospects of qualifying for the continental tournament.
According to him, the team showed glimpses of character despite missing some key players through injuries and should use the experience to improve ahead of the Somalia encounter.
“The Black Stars had shown character in patches of the game despite the absence of our big players who opted out due to various injury situations. I am optimistic that the team will learn from the loss and come back stronger in the subsequent match against Somalia,” he said.
Mr Kpodovia said victory against Somalia was crucial to rebuilding confidence within the team and among supporters.
He urged the technical team to assess the mistakes that contributed to the defeat in Ivory Coast and make the necessary adjustments before the home fixture.
He also appealed to Ghanaians to fill the Accra Sports Stadium and provide strong support for the players.
The fans said a convincing home victory would give the Black Stars the needed momentum to approach the remaining matches with renewed confidence.
Mr Kpodovia further noted that Ghana’s group, which includes Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia, remained competitive but insisted that the Black Stars must take advantage of their remaining fixtures.
“On paper, Black Stars remain one of the strongest teams in the group and should be able to recover from the opening loss to finish among the top two qualifying positions,” he said.
He also questioned the decision to award Ivory Coast a penalty for the second goal, describing the officiating as unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast currently leads Group C with three points, while The Gambia and Somalia are yet to earn a point. Ghana occupies the bottom position with a minus-two goal difference.
The Gambia is scheduled to host Somalia on September 25 in the other Group C fixture.
The fans expressed hope that the Black Stars would use the Somalia match as an opportunity to launch their recovery and keep their AFCON qualification campaign on course.
