Algeria's top referee Mustapha Ghorbal to handle Ghanaâ??s 2027 AFCON qualifier against Côte dâ??Ivoire

Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take charge of Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against Côte d’Ivoire.

The experienced official will oversee the highly anticipated West African clash as the Black Stars begin their campaign to secure a place at the next edition of the continental showpiece.

Ghorbal will be assisted by compatriots Abbes Akram Zerhouni and Mokrane Gourari, who have been named as the first and second assistant referees respectively.

CAF has also appointed another Algerian, Loutfi Bekouassa, as the fourth official for the fixture.

Ghana are scheduled to make the short trip to neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire for the encounter on September 24, 2026.

The match will be played at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT.

The fixture is expected to attract significant attention given the rivalry between the two West African nations, with both sides eager to make a strong start in the qualification race.

For the Black Stars, securing a positive result away from home could provide an important boost to their campaign and strengthen their position in the group.

Ghana will therefore look to put in a disciplined performance in Bouaké as they aim to begin their journey towards qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on a positive note.

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