Somalia Face Côte d’Ivoire in Crucial AFCON 2027 Qualifier

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s national football team, the Ocean Stars, will return to action on Tuesday night when they face Côte d’Ivoire in their second Group C match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The match will be played at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. GMT, or 10:00 p.m. Somalia time.

The Ocean Stars are seeking their first points of the qualifying campaign after opening with a 2-1 defeat to The Gambia. Bilal Njie scored Somalia’s equaliser in the second half, but Muhammed Badamosi restored Gambia’s lead to secure the win.

Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, began its campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana in Bouaké. Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring before Franck Kessié converted a penalty to give the Elephants all three points.

The result leaves Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia on three points at the top of Group C, while Somalia and Ghana are yet to register a point after the opening round. The qualifiers are being played over six matchdays, with the top two teams in groups without an AFCON 2027 co-host advancing to the finals.

The Abidjan encounter offers an opportunity for Somalia to respond to the narrow defeat against The Gambia and build on the progress the Ocean Stars have shown in recent international competition.

The match also presents a demanding test against a Côte d’Ivoire side with considerable experience in African football and a strong start under coach Hervé Renard. The Ivorians will be looking to maintain their winning momentum, while Somalia will hope to produce a disciplined performance and secure a result that keeps their qualification campaign alive.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.