Ghana Eyes World Cup Qualification Against CAR

Ghana’s Quest for the 2026 World Cup

Ghana is aiming to secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup as they prepare to travel to Meknes to take on the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday during the ninth matchday of the African qualifying series.

Current Standings

The Black Stars currently lead Group I with 19 points, maintaining a three-point advantage over second-placed Madagascar. A victory against CAR would significantly bolster their chances of auto-qualifying for the tournament.

A win would almost guarantee Ghana’s entry into the World Cup, but they would still need favorable outcomes from other matches to fully secure that status. Comoros will be playing against Madagascar concurrently, and any mistake from Madagascar could pave the way for Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance, especially considering their strong performance so far in the series.

Performance Overview

Under the guidance of Otto Addo, Ghana has achieved six wins in their eight World Cup qualifying matches. Their only setbacks included a narrow 1-0 defeat to Comoros on Matchday two and a 1-1 draw against Chad during the September double-header. Ghana bounced back with a 1-0 win over Mali in Accra shortly after, bringing their goal tally to 17, the highest in their group, while conceding just six goals.

The year 2024 has been generally favorable for Ghana, with four victories in six matches, along with a draw and a loss. They are expected to secure maximum points against CAR, especially considering their opponents have nothing at stake.

CAR’s Struggles

With their hopes of qualifying extinguished, CAR will be playing solely for pride. They are looking to put forth a strong challenge following their thrilling 4-3 defeat to Ghana in the first encounter.

However, Les Fauves come into this match with five losses out of their last six games across all competitions and have not scored in the most recent five of those contests. Their only win in the qualifiers was a 1-0 triumph over Chad in June 2024, marking one of just two instances where they managed to keep a clean sheet during this campaign, highlighting their defensive struggles.

The Central African team has conceded 17 goals, which is the second most in Group I, yet they have managed to score eight times. They hope to leverage this scoring capability when they face Ghana on Wednesday in a bid to snap an eight-match winless streak in all competitions.

Key Players for Ghana

Captain Jordan Ayew has netted six goals during the qualifiers, leading a mix of seasoned players and promising talents who are eager to make another World Cup appearance. Notable players such as Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Alexander Djiku, Gideon Mensah, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku are all set to contribute to the match against CAR, especially after Ghana missed qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Match Details

The match is set to kick off at 16:00 GMT at the Stade d’Honneur Meknès in Meknes, Morocco.

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