Brandon Thomas-Asante has urged Ghana to show determination and purpose when they face Somalia in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday.
The Black Stars have lost their opening two Group C matches and are yet to register a point, leaving their qualification campaign under immediate pressure. Thomas-Asante believes the team must make full use of the two matches against Somalia if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the tournament alive.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Essipong Sports Stadium, the forward said Ghana’s players were fully aware of the importance of the first meeting and had arrived with a clear objective.
“We understand the task at hand and everyone is here on a mission. We are here knowing we have to maximise this opportunity. We believe we have that quality and we can show it in these games,” he said.
Ghana began their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake, failing to take anything from their away match against their West African rivals.
Their position became more difficult in the following fixture against The Gambia. Although the Black Stars built a two-goal lead at home, they could not hold on and eventually lost 4-2.
The two defeats have left Ghana with little margin for error as they prepare for a double-header against Somalia. Securing maximum points from both matches is regarded as essential if the four-time African champions are to put their qualifying campaign back on track.
Interim head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has selected an experienced squad for the two fixtures, with Thomas-Asante expected to be among the players tasked with helping Ghana turn their quality into results.
The first match will be played at Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday, November 12, with Ghana hosting Somalia. The return fixture will take place four days later, on Monday, November 16, 2026, when the Black Stars travel to face Somalia.
Thomas-Asante said the squad had the ability required to respond to the difficult start, but Ghana must now produce performances capable of delivering victories.
The Black Stars’ immediate challenge is to convert their understanding of the situation into a much-improved display and collect the points needed to revive their prospects of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
