Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante has stressed the importance of Ghana approaching their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia with the utmost seriousness, insisting the team must make the most of the opportunity to revive their qualification campaign.

Published 11 Nov 2026, 17:12 GMT

2 min read

‘We’re not here to joke around’ – Thomas-Asante insists Black Stars must deliver against Somalia

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Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante has stressed the importance of Ghana approaching their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia with the utmost seriousness, insisting the team must make the most of the opportunity to revive their qualification campaign.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Essipong Sports Stadium ahead of Thursday's encounter, Thomas-Asante said the squad was determined to give its best and capitalise on the quality available.

“We are not here to joke around or anything. We are here knowing we have got to put our best foot forward and to maximise this opportunity. You look around the squad, we've got the quality,” he said.

Ghana head into the fixture under pressure after losing their opening two Group C matches, leaving the four-time African champions without a point.

The Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké before surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia, results that have placed their qualification hopes in jeopardy.

Thomas-Asante believes the quality within the squad gives Ghana the platform to respond, but the team must translate that potential into a strong performance on the pitch.

"We understand the task at hand and everyone is hear on [a] mission. We are here knowing we have to maximize this opportunity. We believe we have that quality and we can show it in these games," the Coventry City forward added.

The forward is part of an experienced squad assembled by interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren for the double-header against Somalia, with Ghana needing maximum points from both fixtures to keep their hopes of reaching the tournament alive.

The Black Stars will host Somalia on Thursday, November 12, before meeting the same opponents again on Monday, November 16, 2026.

Mandela Yaw AnuvabeMandela Yaw Anuvabe is a journalist and sports writer with 3Sports under Media General, delivering compelling sports content and in-depth coverage. Known for having a knack for telling intriguing feature stories, Mandela was recently recognised for his impeccable writing, finishing fifth in Africa in the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Awards Young Reporters Writing category.

‘We’re not here to joke around’ – Thomas-Asante insists Black Stars must deliver against Somalia

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