Ivory Coast host Ghana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Thursday in the headline fixture from the opening round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
The West African rivals begin Group C alongside The Gambia and Somalia, with the top two teams qualifying for next year's tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Herve Renard starts his second spell as Ivory Coast coach against a severely depleted Ghana side. Carlos Queiroz is without Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo and captain Jordan Ayew after three late withdrawals.
Ivory Coast vs Ghana: Key Stats
Ivory Coast won two of their four matches at the 2026 World Cup
Ghana conceded only three goals across four World Cup fixtures
The Black Stars scored just twice during their World Cup campaign
The last meeting finished 0-0 in a June 2021 friendly
The 1992 and 2015 AFCON finals between the teams both ended goalless before Ivory Coast won on penalties
Photo Credit (CAF)
What to Expect
Renard is expected to retain Ivory Coast's familiar 4-3-3 structure, with Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare providing the platform for Nicolas Pepe, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Yan Diomande. The hosts should control possession and use their wide forwards to isolate Ghana's full-backs.
The Elephants are without Amad Diallo, Wilfried Singo and Martial Godo through injury, while Simon Adingra is also unavailable. Eight newcomers have been selected, but Yahia Fofana, Ousmane Diomande, Kessie and Sangare give the side an experienced core.
Ghana are likely to prioritise defensive organisation after losing Kudus, Semenyo and Jordan Ayew. Caleb Yirenkyi, Kwasi Sibo and Ronald Donkor can form a compact midfield, leaving Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Ernest Nuamah to provide the principal counterattacking threat.
Queiroz added nine players after late fitness concerns affected his original squad. Brandon Thomas-Asante is the leading candidate to start through the middle, while Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Jerome Opoku and Gideon Mensah could form the back four.
Predicted Lineups
Ivory Coast (4-3-3)
Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Diomande, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, Inao; Pepe, Bonny, Yan Diomande
Ghana (4-3-3)
Asare; Oppong, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Yirenkyi, Sibo, Donkor; Issahaku, Thomas-Asante, Nuamah
Players to Watch
Yan Diomande - The young winger was one of Ivory Coast's most progressive attackers at the World Cup. His acceleration and willingness to attack defenders directly can stretch Ghana's compact defensive block.
Nicolas Pepe - Pepe scored both goals in Ivory Coast's 2-0 World Cup victory over Curacao. With Amad and Adingra unavailable, his finishing and set-piece quality become even more important.
Ernest Nuamah - Nuamah must assume greater creative responsibility following Ghana's attacking withdrawals. His pace gives the Black Stars their clearest route into the spaces behind Ivory Coast's full-backs.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku - Fatawu can carry Ghana up the pitch and produce chances from the right. His ability to retain possession under pressure will be essential if the visitors are to relieve Ivory Coast's expected territorial dominance.
Prediction
Prediction: Ivory Coast to win @ 1.64
Ghana's defensive organisation should prevent this from becoming one-sided, but the withdrawals of Kudus, Semenyo and Jordan Ayew leave Queiroz without most of his established attacking leadership. The Black Stars scored only twice across four World Cup matches even with stronger personnel available.
Ivory Coast retain greater individual quality, a deeper bench and home advantage in Bouake. Renard should begin his second spell with a controlled victory, with 2-0 the preferred scoreline.