By Our Correspondent

National News – William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles captain, has reacted to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers draw held in Cairo, Egypt on May 20, 2026, which produced a Group C pairing featuring Ghana, Ivory Coast, The Gambia, and Somalia.

The draw, which determines qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for June 19 to July 17 across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, places two West African football giants against emerging and underdog teams.

Ekong, who served as a draw assistant, said he was excited by the competitive nature of the group.

He noted that Ghana’s drop in FIFA rankings after missing the previous tournament added unpredictability, while Ivory Coast’s recent success as 2023 champions makes the matchup highly anticipated.

The Gambia, known for reaching the 2021 quarter-finals on debut, and Somalia are expected to test the favorites.

The qualification system allows the top two teams from each group to advance, except in groups with co-hosts where only one progresses.

Ekong emphasized that upsets are possible, highlighting the balance between established football powers and rising nations in African football.

The AFCON 2027 qualifiers promise intense competition as West African rivals renew their football rivalry, with fans expecting dramatic fixtures and surprise results across the continent.

This West African showdown between Ghana and Ivory Coast continues a long-standing football rivalry, often producing high-intensity matches in continental competitions.

Analysts expect Group C to be one of the toughest in the qualifiers, with every fixture potentially deciding qualification fate early.

Fans across Africa are closely monitoring the AFCON 2027 qualifiers as anticipation builds toward the tournament hosted in East Africa.

Ekong’s comments add further excitement as teams prepare for decisive matches that will shape their journey to the continental championship.