Ghana begin their qualifying campaign with a difficult trip to Bouaké, where Ivory Coast will field a squad reshaped by Hervé Renard after the World Cup.
The French coach has selected eight new players for the hosts following their run at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ivory Coast reached the final stage before Norway ended their campaign in the round of 32, and Renard has used the opening qualifier as an opportunity to introduce fresh faces.
For Ghana’s Black Stars, the first match of the campaign comes without Iñaki Williams. The Athletic Club forward stepped away from international duty on 11 September after taking part in the World Cup, leaving Ghana without one of their established attacking options for a demanding away night.
The meeting in Bouaké therefore sets two altered teams against each other: Ivory Coast looking to move on from their World Cup exit with renewed personnel, and Ghana beginning a new qualifying route after Williams’ decision to leave the national set-up.
