Group C immediately stands out as one of the headline groups after pairing Ghana with regional rivals Côte d’Ivoire.
The rivalry between the two West African giants is expected to produce high-intensity encounters with qualification implications. The Gambia could emerge as dangerous outsiders given their recent growth, while Somalia will hope to gain valuable experience against elite opposition.
Ghana will be aiming to re-establish themselves among Africa’s elite after inconsistent recent campaigns, while Côte d’Ivoire enter with confidence following their resurgence on the continent. The head-to-head meetings between the two could ultimately determine the group winner.
The Gambia should not be underestimated either. Their disciplined style and ability to frustrate bigger opponents could make them one of the surprise packages of the qualifiers.
