The Black Stars of Ghana produced a dominant display as they thrashed the Central African Republic 5-0 away from home, strengthening their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Ghana started the first half on a high note, determined to secure early qualification with a game to spare.
It was a one-sided opening half, with the Central African Republic struggling to even cross the halfway line. The Black Stars created several chances in the early stages but lacked decisiveness in front of goal.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Mohammed Salisu connected perfectly with a corner kick delivered by Mohammed Kudus to give Ghana the lead.
Despite the Central African Republic’s shaky defense, Ghana’s attack lacked efficiency in the final third. The first half ended with Ghana holding a slim 1–0 advantage.
The damage was done in the second half as the Black Stars came out firing with precision. Just seven minutes after the restart, Thomas Partey doubled the lead with a composed finish into the bottom corner after a well-worked passing move and a through ball from captain Jordan Ayew.
The tempo of the game rose, and in the 66th minute, play was briefly halted after Jordan Ayew collided with a Central African Republic player. The situation threatened to disrupt the match, but the referee’s swift intervention restored order. Ayew was later booked for over acting.
Ghana’s third goal came from another set piece. In the 69th minute, a well-placed cross from Ayew was expertly headed home by Alexander Djiku. Ayew then got on the scoresheet himself, netting the fourth goal of the night. Although the Central African Republic created a few chances, Ghana maintained control throughout, and the scoreline reflected their dominance.
The fifth goal was orchestrated by two substitutes: Joseph Paintsil delivered a low cross that Kamaldeen Sulemana tapped in to complete the rout.
Although Madagascar won their match against Comoros, Ghana remains in a strong position to qualify as they lead the group on both goals scored and head-to-head record.
Their final group fixture will be against Comoros in Accra, while Madagascar will travel to face Mali. For Madagascar to qualify, they would need to score nine goals against Mali and hope Ghana loses and concedes heavily against Comoros; an unlikely scenario.
By Jesse Otoo
