Franck Kessié Says When You Play Ghana It’s A Derby
On the eve of their Group C opener for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, Elephants captain Franck Kessié kept it simple:
“When you play Ghana, it’s a derby. Ghana are also a great African nation with very good players. We’re working hard and following the coach’s instructions to be ready from the first whistle tomorrow.”
Tomorrow is Wednesday, September 24 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké – and it’s loaded with history.
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This is the first competitive meeting in a new qualifying cycle for a tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Côte d’Ivoire arrive as favourites and reigning continental heavyweights with three AFCON titles, fresh from a first-ever knockout run at the 2026 World Cup. Ghana arrive wounded, desperate for redemption after missing the 2025 AFCON entirely.
It’s also a reunion with a familiar ghost. Hervé Renard, the Frenchman who masterminded Côte d’Ivoire’s 2015 AFCON triumph over Ghana on penalties, is back for a second spell after being appointed in August 2026. On the other bench is Carlos Queiroz, tasked with rebuilding a Black Stars side hit hard by absentees.
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Kessié’s message matters because he embodies this Ivory Coast era. The Atalanta midfielder still wears the armband and runs the midfield, surrounded by a deep European-based pool including Evan Ndicka, Nicolas Pépé and Real Madrid youngster Yan Diomandé.
Ghana vs Côte d’Ivoire has twice decided an AFCON final, both on penalties in 1992 and 2015, both won by the Elephants. Kessié knows that weight.
For Côte d’Ivoire, it’s about starting strong at home. For Ghana, it’s about proving they belong again. Derby day does not need extra motivation.
