Chad welcomes Black Stars in Group I
Chad will welcome Ghana to the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno on Thursday in the seventh round of CAF’s World Cup qualifiers, with the two sides sitting at opposite ends of Group I.
The Black Stars top the standings and remain on course for the mundial, while Les Sao are already eliminated after a dismal run of results.
Chad’s campaign has unravelled in predictable fashion, with six straight defeats leaving them without a single point on the board.
Head coach Raoul Savoy has sought to keep his side competitive, drawing on experienced figures such as Marius Mouandilmadji and captain N’Douassel to lead the line, while Ahmat Abderamane remains one of few who can provide balance in midfield.
Even so, with the team conceding an average of 2.5 goals per qualifier, it is difficult to see where the spark for a revival might come from. The emphasis will inevitably be on damage limitation rather than a genuine contest.
For Ghana, this fixture represents another chance to strengthen their grip at the top of Group I. The Black Stars have collected 15 points from a possible 18, recovering from an early slip against Mali with a five-match winning run.
Their most recent qualifier saw them brush Madagascar aside with a commanding 3-0 victory in Antananarivo, a match in which Thomas Partey struck twice before Mohammed Kudus added gloss with a third, all three goals supplied by Jordan Ayew. It was a performance that underlined the blend of control and cutting edge Otto Addo has instilled.
The Ghanaian side boasts one of the most potent attacks in the section, scoring 15 goals in six matches at an average of 2.5 per game, while also keeping things relatively secure at the back with just five goals conceded.
With Kudus pulling strings, Partey anchoring midfield, and Ayew in prolific form, the visitors look well-equipped to navigate a fixture that on paper carries little jeopardy but remains crucial to maintaining momentum into the next round.
Otto Addo has called up a 24-man squad that blends experience with fresh blood. Partey, Kudus, Ayew and Inaki Williams form the backbone of the side.
Chad’s struggles have been well documented, and while they may seek to frustrate Ghana in front of their own supporters, the gulf in class is simply too wide.
Addo’s side has found a rhythm in qualifying and with Ayew, Kudus and Partey all fit and firing, this has the look of another comfortable night for the Black Stars.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Mali host Comoros in a tight contest
Mali will host Comoros at the Stade Municipal de Berkane on Thursday in round seven of CAF’s World Cup qualifiers, with just three points separating the two sides in a tightly contested Group I.
The Eagles remain unbeaten at home but inconsistent overall, while the Coelacanths continue to push for a top-two finish thanks to an impressive run of wins.
Mali enter the fixture with a mixed record of two victories, three draws and one defeat from their opening six matches.
At home, the Eagles have been steady if unspectacular, winning once, drawing once and losing once from their three qualifiers in Bamako.
Comoros, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the standout stories of the group. They have claimed four wins from six outings, suffering only two defeats, and boast nine goals scored with seven conceded.
Away from home, the Coelacanths have split their results evenly, with one win and one loss, but the momentum of their campaign overall means they will travel to Mali with belief.
This is only the second meeting between the two nations, with Mali having won the sole previous encounter.
Mali’s defensive organisation has made them difficult to beat, but their inability to turn draws into victories has stalled progress. Comoros, despite missing two senior figures, have shown enough resilience and attacking spark to suggest they can still cause problems.
That said, the hosts’ quality in midfield and their home advantage should give them the edge in what promises to be a tight battle.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Madagascar face Central African Republic in neutral Morocco
Madagascar will face Central African Republic at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in neutral Morocco on Thursday, as round seven of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers continues.
Barea sit third in Group I with 10 points from six matches — five adrift of leaders Ghana and two behind second-placed Comoros — while their opponents occupy second-bottom with just five points.
Madagascar appointed Corentin Martins as head coach in January, and he marked his debut with a commanding 4-1 victory against Thursday’s opponents in the reverse fixture.
However, Barea quickly came back down to earth with a 3-0 defeat to Ghana days later, missing a chance to close in on the group’s frontrunners and denting their hopes of a historic first World Cup appearance.
Although still mathematically in contention, Madagascar face an uphill battle with crucial fixtures against Comoros and Mali still ahead.
Since the loss to Ghana, the Malagasy have remained active, finishing fourth in the COSAFA Cup and reaching the final of the African Nations Championship with their home-based squad, continuing to show their competitive edge.
History is also on their side, as Madagascar have never lost a World Cup qualifier to Central African Republic, winning two and drawing one of their three meetings.
For CAR, qualification looks increasingly unlikely, but the visitors will be eager to halt a run of defeats against Thursday’s hosts, having also fallen to them in the African Nations Championship last month.
Uncertainty lingers over the head coach role, with Eloge Enza Yamissi still potentially leading the side amid disputes over Rigobert Song’s appointment.
Nevertheless, CAR can take encouragement from improved recent displays, going unbeaten across their last four fixtures with the main team, scoring three goals and conceding just once in that stretch.
Madagascar boast a strong record in this fixture and currently have the right mix of foreign and home-based talent hitting form at the same time.
That level of quality should be too much for the Central African Republic to cope with, despite the progress they showed in their June and July friendlies, and just as in March, we expect the Malagasy to come out on top again.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Group A
Guinea-Bissau 17:00 Sierra Leone
Group D
Group G
Group H
São Tomé e Príncipe 17:00 Equatorial Guinea
Group I
Madagascar 17:00 Central African Republic
