Ivory Coast vs Ghana Prediction 24 September 2026
🔉 The first round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying - and straight away a match not to be missed. Ivory Coast host Ghana. For the Ghanaians, this qualifying campaign is a chance to make amends after their failure to reach the 2025 tournament's final stage. Ivory Coast reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Egypt, and are now looking to pick up points from the opening matches.
🔁 This prediction will be updated as important news emerges. Check back closer to kick-off.
Head-to-Head
📊 The last time these two sides met was in 2019, when Ghana came out on top 3-1. Since then, the two teams have gone in opposite directions: Côte d'Ivoire have risen to a new level, while Ghana have gone the other way.
Head-to-head statistics Ivory Coast - Ghana
Ivory Coast: scoring and winning
Côte d'Ivoire represented Africa at the 2026 World Cup. In the group stage, they beat Ecuador (1-0) and Curaçao (2-0) before losing to Germany (1-2), which was enough to advance to the knockout rounds. There they were eliminated by Norway (1-2). That match was the national team's last official fixture before the start of qualifying.
Looking at form more broadly - including friendlies - the team have won seven and lost three of their last ten matches, with a goal difference of 19-9. At least three goals were scored in 6 of those 10 games. The attack has been productive and the results are there, but the defence showed weaknesses at the World Cup, particularly against quick counter-attacking sides.
Match Results: Ivory Coast
Ghana: just one win in their last ten matches
Ghana were at the 2026 World Cup and also made it out of their group. An opening win over Panama (1-0) effectively secured their place in the knockout stage, followed by a draw with England (0-0) and a defeat to Croatia (1-2). With four points, they advanced to the Round of 32, where they lost to Colombia (0-1). Since then, the squad have not played a single official or friendly match.
The overall picture is bleak: the win over Panama is their only victory in their last ten matches. The rest amounts to two draws and seven defeats, with a goal difference of 5-16. Matches have been low-scoring, with no more than two goals in 7 of those 10 games. Ghana lack rhythm, confidence and a cutting edge going forward.
Match Results: Ghana
Latest news
Ivory Coast
Côte d'Ivoire cannot call on their strongest squad. Simon Adingra, Amad Diallo - the biggest loss, with two goals at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers - and Wilfried Singo have all been ruled out through injury. Parfait Guiagno's availability is in doubt: he has recovered from injury, but his current form is unknown. The absences are significant, particularly in attack.
Ghana
Ghana are without Kamaldeen Sulemana and Marvin Senaya. Overall, the visitors' injury problems are less significant than their opponents'.
🔁 Update - 24 September, 10:41 UTC:
- Ghana's attack has been badly hit by injuries to potentially key players. Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew have all been ruled out of the original squad through injury. The loss of the Sheffield United forward feels particularly significant - Ayew has scored 15 goals in 33 matches for the national team over recent cycles.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
The start of a qualifying campaign always brings a battle for every ball, and with Ghana there is a psychological factor on top of that. The Ghanaians remember how the last qualifying cycle turned into a disaster: no wins and bottom place in the group. That failure is a fresh wound, so the team will scrap and fight with twice the determination. Côte d'Ivoire have no intention of giving ground either: a home match, a full stadium, three points needed. Total Cards - Over 3.5 looks a well-founded bet.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
Côte d'Ivoire have a consistent pattern: they have scored in the second half in 10 of their last 11 matches. Playing at home will add pressure on the visitors, and the opponents' fatigue towards the end of the game could work in the hosts' favour. Côte d'Ivoire to Score in the 2nd Half is a bet built precisely on this habit of increasing their pressure after the break.
🚩 Corners Prediction
The hosts will play on their own terms: keeping the ball, attacking, loading the box. With their own supporters behind them, Côte d'Ivoire will be even less inclined to sit back. That means Ghana will have to do a lot of defending and will frequently be clearing the ball behind the line. We are going with Côte d'Ivoire Team Total Corners - Over 4.5.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐ Editor's Prediction
Côte d'Ivoire are starting the qualifying campaign at home, and that matters. In AFCON qualification they have won ten consecutive home matches. Ghana have gone eight away matches without a win - though only two of those were defeats, with six draws. The Ghanaians are good at grinding out results, but winning on the road is proving difficult for them right now. Even without Diallo and Adingra, the hosts' quality should tell: they have a deep squad and tactical discipline. Ghana have not played since the World Cup, so they lack match sharpness, and their attack has scored just five times in ten matches. Keeping a clean sheet against such a side is a realistic task, and scoring themselves is only a matter of time. We are backing a home win. Predicted score: 2-0.
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Betting Tips: Ivory Coast - Ghana
in 6 of last 7 away games (Cup of Nations, Qualification).
in 14 of last 15 home games.in last 6 home games (Cup of Nations, Qualification).in 6 of last 7 away games (Cup of Nations, Qualification).
in 14 of last 15 home games.in last 6 home games (Cup of Nations, Qualification).in last 7 away games (Cup of Nations, Qualification).in last 6 games (Cup of Nations, Qualification).Comparison of Teams Stats
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