Chad vs Ghana World Cup Qualifier: Black Stars' Predicted Starting Line-up
- Ghana will face Chad on September 4, 2025, when the Black Stars will hope to boost their 2026 World Cup qualification chances
- Thomas Partey is currently facing serious charges in England, but the Villarreal star is still expected to be included
- Coach Otto Addo's possible starting formation is a 4-2-3-1 setup, and two Ghanaians are ruled out of the upcoming clash
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Ghana is set to face Chad during the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, September 4, with the Black Stars aiming to seal their place at the global football showcase in North America next year.
Coach Otto Addo, an ex-Ghana international midfielder, succeeded Chris Hughton in March last year after a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign that saw the team fail to record a single victory in Ivory Coast.
Source: Getty Images
Guided by the former Borussia Dortmund player-turned-coach, the four-time winners of Africa’s top tournament suffered one of their darkest moments, failing to book a place at this year’s AFCON.
The team endured a disastrous qualifying campaign, failing to win a single game in six matches, including home defeats to Angola and Niger and draws against the same opponents while on the road.
The national side also drew at home with former Ghanaian international Kwesi Appiah's Sudan, who handed the Black Stars a 2-0 defeat in a highly anticipated clash held on neutral ground in Libya.
Ghana hopeful of 2026 World Cup qualification
After the heartbreak of missing an AFCON for the first time in 20 years, the Black Stars are fired up to make amends by booking their place at next year’s World Cup.
According to One Football, Ghana leads CAF Qualifying Group 1 with 15 points from six games, three ahead of Comoros, who have played the same number of games.
On March 21, the Black Stars crushed Chad 5-0 at home at the Accra Sports Stadium, then followed up with a 3-0 win on the road over Madagascar three days later.
With momentum on their side, Otto Addo will want to continue their run against Chad on September 4 in N'Djamena, with the squad list released by the Ghana FA website.
Source: Twitter
Predicted Ghana starting line-up versus Chad
YEN.com.gh has looked at how the Black Stars of Ghana could line up against Les Sao of Chad in the 2026 World Cup qualifying encounter, with Coach Addo having 22 players to work with.
Goalkeeper: Benjamin Asare
The last line of defence, Hearts of Oak's Benjamin Asare will be expected to command his area, organise the backline, and keep the Black Stars in the game with crucial saves.
Full-backs: Tariq Lamptey, Gideon Mensah
Both full-backs bring pace and attacking intent, with Tariq Lamptey’s overlapping runs and Gideon Mensah’s defensive solidity likely to be key in controlling Chad’s wide threats.
Centre-backs: Jerome Opoku, Mohammed Salisu
With Alexander Djiku sidelined with an injury, this pairing forms the heart of Ghana’s defence for Thursday's clash. Mohammed Salisu’s aerial dominance and Jerome Opoku’s composure on the ball will be vital in nullifying Chad’s forwards.
Midfielders: Ibrahim Sulemana, Thomas Partey
Ibrahim Sulemana offers energy and ball-winning skills, while Villarreal's new midfielder maestro Thomas Partey is expected to drive the tempo, link defence, and corral attackers using his experience and vision.
Attackers: Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo
Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Inaki Williams, and Antoine Semenyo are expected to form the Black Stars' offensive quartet, combining speed, creativity, and finishing ability. Tottenham's Kudus and Athletic Bilbao's skipper Williams will look to exploit spaces, while captain Ayew and in-form Bournemouth hitman Semenyo, arguably Ghana's best player right now, would be tasked to provide leadership and clinical edge in front of goal.
According to SuperSport, Ghana will face Mali four days later, on September 8, 2025, with victories here all but securing the Black Stars place in the FIFA World Cup next year.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with YEN.com.gh, former Hearts of Oak and Ghana international Lawrence Adjah Tetteh stressed the importance of the Black Stars securing victory against Chad. He believes three points in that game would ease the pressure ahead of the must-win showdown with Mali in Accra.
“If Ghana beat Chad, it takes a huge weight off their shoulders before facing Mali,” Antwi explained.
“You don’t want to go into such a tough game knowing only a win will save you. Winning against Chad gives the team breathing space and confidence to approach Mali with freedom.”
Djiku, Paintsil ruled out for Black Stars
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that defender Alexander Djiku and winger Joseph Paintsil were ruled out of Thursday's clash in N'Djamena.
However, with a strong squad and plenty of options, Otto Addo must ensure the Black Stars do not suffer from the absence of key players.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
