Ivory Coast and Ghana anchor Group C in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers alongside Gambia and Somalia, creating a tightly contested race where trader consensus reflects the narrow margins between the two higher-ranked West African sides. No matches have been played yet, but the upcoming September double-header—featuring Ivory Coast versus Ghana and Gambia versus Somalia—sets the tone for early momentum. Ivory Coast’s deeper squad options and recent continental pedigree contrast with Ghana’s rebuilding efforts after missing prior finals, while Gambia’s improved depth, including European-based players, positions them as realistic contenders for one of the two qualifying spots. Somalia trails as the lowest-ranked side, though home advantage in early fixtures could influence results. Historical head-to-head intensity between the top two teams and limited rest between windows further compress probabilities across the group.