Kwasi Sibo, a midfielder for the Black Stars, has spoken about the significance of Ghana qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and stated that he is committed to doing everything in his power to support the national team’s return to the continental competition.
The Black Stars’ long-standing participation in the competition came to an end after Ghana was left out of the last AFCON tournament in Morocco. According to Sibo, his experience has made being eligible for the upcoming edition very crucial.
“We did not qualify for the last AFCON, which really saddened me, so this AFCON is something that really means to me,” Sibo remarked.
Sibo was speaking in an interview when the midfielder arrived in Ghana to join his teammates in getting ready for their first 2027 AFCON qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire, which is set for September 24 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
Sibo maintains that Ghana will not be scared by the Ivorian team’s strength and thinks the Black Stars have enough talent to compete against the African champions.
“I am not afraid of it. The opponents in front of us are people we know. They have excellent individual players and are an excellent country. We are prepared for that game, and we have good players who can compete with them,” he stated.
Sibo feels that qualification is especially important because of the nation’s football history and the fervor around the Black Stars.
“The only thing I have in mind is we have to qualify for this AFCON,” Sibo previously stated, describing Ghana’s failure to qualify for the previous tournament as a major disappointment for Ghanaians.
The midfielder also acknowledged that there is work to be done under head coach Carlos Queiroz, who has begun a new phase with the national team following Ghana’s participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana Opens The AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Away To Côte d’Ivoire: The Black Stars Will Be Tested Early
Sibo described Queiroz as a disciplined and tactical coach and said the Black Stars can continue improving both collectively and individually under his guidance.
Ghana faces a difficult opening assignment against Côte d’Ivoire before returning home to host The Gambia on September 29.
The Ghana Football Association’s squad for the qualifiers includes Sibo alongside several players who featured at the 2026 World Cup. CAF confirmed that Ghana will travel to Bouaké for the September 24 encounter before hosting The Gambia five days later.