Ghana welcome back four of their biggest names for Thursday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia, with Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and Mohammed Salisu all returning to a Black Stars side desperate for its first win of the campaign.
Both teams go into the game on zero points after two rounds of matches in the group, and both badly need a win to kick their campaigns back on track. For Ghana, in front of the home fans in Takoradi, there is no room for another slip-up.
This is as close to a must-win as a qualifier can get this early. Ghana have lost their opening two games, against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia, and sit on zero points. Somalia are in the same position, also on zero points after two rounds.
A win on Thursday would not just give Ghana their first three points, it would change the whole mood of the campaign and put the team back in contention, ease the pressure on Kim Lars Bjorkegren in his first competitive game in charge, and set up Monday’s return fixture with real momentum.
That is why this double-header is so important. Six points across the two games in Takoradi would completely reset the group for Ghana and it starts with three points on Thursday.
The story of this game is the return of Ghana’s leaders.
Mohammed Kudus is back for the first time in 2026. His return alone lifts the team. Kudus brings pace, direct running, creativity, and goals from midfield, and he is the one player who can change a game in a single moment. After months away, Ghana will be looking to him to provide the spark that was missing in the opening two qualifiers.
He is joined by Captain Jordan Ayew and Assistant Captain Thomas Partey, who both missed the games against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
Ayew’s presence is about more than just what he does on the ball. As captain, he brings experience, leadership, and calm in difficult moments, exactly what a team under pressure needs. In a game where Ghana will be expected to dominate possession and break down a stubborn defence, his movement, work rate, and ability to link play will be crucial.
Partey brings control in midfield as he is the man who sets the tempo, wins the ball back, and allows the attackers ahead of him to play with freedom. Without him, Ghana lacked that balance in the first two games. With him back, Bjorkegren has the platform to build his game plan around.
And then there is Mohammed Salisu.
The AS Monaco defender is also making a return to the team, having missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the two opening AFCON qualifiers. His return is significant. Salisu brings physicality, composure, and experience at the highest level to a backline that has conceded in both opening games. His ability to read the game, win duels, and play out from the back will be vital, not just for stopping Somalia, but for starting Ghana’s attacks from deep.
Together, Kudus, Ayew, Partey and Salisu give this team a spine again. It is the spine that was missing in September, and it is the spine Bjorkegren will be counting on to deliver in Takoradi.
For head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren, this is his first camp in charge, and his first competitive test with the Black Stars. He has been clear in his message all week: Ghana need six points, but they must take it one game at a time. Respect Somalia, but believe in themselves. He has talked about giving the players freedom to do what they do at their clubs, keeping the game plan simple, and playing with good energy, fighting spirit, and team spirit. With his key players back, he now has the tools to put that plan into practice.
Somalia may also be on zero points, but they will not come to Takoradi to make up the numbers.
They pushed Côte d'Ivoire close in their own game, showing great fighting spirit and making it difficult for their opponents. They are organised, they work hard, and they will be desperate for their own first points of the campaign.
Ghana will have to be patient, clinical, and disciplined. This is the type of game where the first goal changes everything. If Ghana score early, with the Takoradi crowd behind them, the game can open up. If Somalia frustrate them for long periods, the pressure will grow. That is where the experience of Ayew, Partey, Salisu, and the quality of Kudus will matter most.
Expect Ghana to start on the front foot, with the fans in Takoradi right behind them. Expect Kudus to be at the centre of everything in attack, Partey to control the middle, Ayew to lead from the front, and Salisu to organise the defence.
And expect a team that knows exactly what is at stake: three points, a first win, and a campaign back on track.
Ghana will play Somalia in the first of the two matches on Thursday, November 12, before battling the Somalis again in the second game on Monday, November 16, 2026, both in Takoradi.
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