Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi says the Black Stars have the quality and determination required to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and compete strongly at the tournament.
Ghana have now turned their attention to the AFCON qualifiers after their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where they reached the Round of 32 for the first time since the 2010 competition.
The St. Gallen goalkeeper believes the current national team has enough talent and ambition to secure a place at the continental tournament, with qualifying matches scheduled to begin in September.
Ati-Zigi, who has been a key figure in the Black Stars squad, said the combination of young talent and motivation within the team gives Ghana confidence heading into the qualifying campaign.
“If you look at the players we have, I think we have what it takes to qualify for the AFCON next year. These are young and hungry players,” Ati-Zigi told Sporty FM.
The goalkeeper also believes Ghana should aim beyond simply reaching the tournament, insisting that the team has the ability to make a significant impression when the competition begins.
“I believe we can make a statement with what we have as a group in the AFCON next year,” he added.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, with Ghana hoping to return to Africa’s biggest football competition after a disappointing absence from the 2025 edition in Morocco.
That failure to qualify ended Ghana’s long-standing run of consecutive AFCON appearances, which stretched back to 2004.
The Black Stars will now attempt to rebuild their continental ambitions through the qualification process. They have been placed in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Somalia.
The group presents Ghana with a challenging route, but Ati-Zigi remains confident that the squad possesses the necessary ability to overcome the challenge and secure qualification.
The goalkeeper’s optimism comes after a World Cup campaign in which Ghana made history by reaching the Round of 32, their first appearance at that stage since their memorable run in 2010.
With the World Cup now behind them, attention has shifted towards preparing for the next major international assignment. The AFCON qualifiers will provide Ghana with an opportunity to continue developing a squad that includes several young players eager to establish themselves on the continental stage.
Ati-Zigi believes that hunger within the group can become a major advantage as Ghana seek to return to the AFCON and compete among Africa’s leading football nations.
The Black Stars have not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 1982, but the goalkeeper believes the current squad has the potential to create a strong campaign if they successfully navigate qualification.
For now, Ghana’s immediate objective is securing a place at the 2027 tournament, with Ati-Zigi confident that the team has both the talent and ambition to achieve that goal and make a statement once they arrive in East Africa.
