Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has criticised the penalty decision that helped Côte d’Ivoire secure a 2-0 victory over Ghana in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Bouaké at the Stade de la Paix on Thursday evening.
The Black Stars fell behind shortly before half-time when Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouyé found the net, before Franck Kessié converted from the spot after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was adjudged to have fouled Yalcouyé inside the box.
The defeat gives Hervé Renard a winning start to his return as Côte d’Ivoire coach, while Ghana are left without a point from their opening Group C fixture.
Queiroz was particularly unhappy with the penalty decision, arguing that the call by the Algerian match official Mustafa Ghorbal changed the balance of the contest at a crucial stage when Ghana were attempting to fight their way back into the game.
“That penalty was a complete joke,” Queiroz said after the match in his post-match press conference at the Stade de la Paix. “I have a duty to defend this team. I have the right to say when there is a mistake.”
The Portuguese coach also questioned why video assistant refereeing was not available, insisting the incident deserved closer scrutiny before the spot-kick was awarded. “I hope CAF doesn’t punish me for expressing my feelings and defending Ghana,” Queiroz said after the game.
VAR is currently not in use at the AFCON qualifying stage which made it difficult for the referee to have a second look at the incident.
Despite the defeat, Queiroz defended his players and maintained that Ghana showed enough character to compete after falling behind. “I have to defend Ghana and my players against any team we face.”
Queiroz Confident of Home Victory Over Ivory Coast
Queiroz also turned his attention to the return meeting, which will be played in Ghana later in the qualifying campaign.
“When Côte d’Ivoire come, with all due respect, it will be our turn to win. The score is 16-15 now, so in a couple of months it will be 16-16. I have no doubt we’re going to win that game.”
Carlos Queiroz, Black Stars head coach
The result, however, adds pressure to a Ghana side that now has to recover quickly before its next Group C assignment against The Gambia in Accra on Tuesday.
Renard Rejects Penalty and Absence Complaints
Hervé Renard was far less interested in the debate surrounding the penalty or Ghana’s list of unavailable players, arguing that Côte d’Ivoire also had to cope with significant absences.
“Missing players is not my problem. We were missing five or six players too,” the French coach said pointing to the number of players from his camp who missed the game.
He also rejected the suggestion that the penalty should dominate the post-match discussion, insisting the Elephants should be judged on the result they secured at the Stade de la Paix. “The penalty, the absences, there are so many excuses,” Renard added. “We won this game, and that’s all that matters.”
The comments underline the contrasting reactions from the two coaches after a match in which Côte d’Ivoire controlled large periods of possession and made Ghana work without the ball.
Ghana improved after the interval and created more attacking moments late on, but could not find a response to Yalcouye and Kessié’s strikes.
Ghana Face Early Pressure
For Queiroz, the immediate concern is now how quickly Ghana can turn frustration into a response.
His side have managed only one win in their last six matches under the Portuguese coach, alongside two draws and three defeats, while their attacking output has also come under scrutiny.
Ghana have recorded only three shots on target across their last four matches, a sequence that highlights the need for greater attacking efficiency as the qualifying campaign continues.
The Black Stars will have little time to dwell on the Bouaké defeat, with The Gambia due in Accra on September 29. Ghana will need a positive result on home soil to get their Group C campaign moving after opening with a loss.
Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, will travel to face Somalia in their next qualifier. Somalia have adopted the Accra Sports Stadium as their home venue for the fixture, meaning the Elephants will again face an away assignment despite the match being played in Ghana.
The Bouaké defeat therefore leaves Ghana with an immediate challenge, both in terms of points and attacking performance, while Côte d’Ivoire have secured the early advantage in Group C.
For now, the two coaches have offered sharply different readings of the same contest, with Queiroz focusing on the penalty and defending his team, and Renard insisting the result should speak for itself.
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