World Cup Qualifiers CAF Group I Drama: Ghana Held by Chad, Madagascar Beat Central African Republic
- Chad held Ghana to a draw in a pulsating 2026 World Cup 2026 qualifier encounter in N'jamena on September 4, 2025
- Madagascar made no mistakes in their game as they dominated Central African Republic to mix things up in Group I
- The Black Stars will face Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 8, 2025, amid a tense battle for World Cup places
The race for automatic qualification from CAF World Cup qualifying Group I is heating up after Ghana were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Chad in N’Djamena on Thursday, September 4.
Despite taking the lead through captain Jordan Ayew, the Black Stars were pegged back in the 89th minute, leaving Otto Addo’s side with plenty to ponder ahead of their next fixture.
Source: Twitter
Ghana, Chad draw in World Cup qualifiers
The Black Stars started the match brightly, dominating possession and creating a number of opportunities. Tottenham Hotspurs’ Mohammed Kudus was lively throughout, providing the assist for Ayew’s opener in the 17th minute.
The Spurs newcomer had creativity and flair on full display, yet his inability to find the back of the net remains a concern for the Black Stars.
Despite their early dominance, Ghana failed to add a second, registering only two shots on target over the 90 minutes, according to Flashscore.
Chad remained resolute and were rewarded late when Young Africans SC forward Celestine Ecua produced a brilliant strike to level the scores, sparking wild celebrations among the home crowd.
Ghana remains at the top of Group I on 16 points from seven matches, but the draw serves as a reminder that qualification is far from guaranteed.
The Black Stars now face a tricky run of fixtures, including a home clash with Mali on Monday, September 8, with Madagascar breathing down their necks at just three points behind, according to FIFA.
Source: Instagram
Madagascar defeats Central African Republic in qualifiers
While Ghana dropped points against the bottom-placed team, according to FIFA, Madagascar put themselves firmly in the mix for qualification with a dominant 2-0 victory over the Central African Republic, signalling their intent to usurp the Black Stars at the top.
The Malagasy side now sit second in the group, with their performance highlighting that the race for the automatic qualification spot will not be straightforward for Otto Addo’s men, with 13 teams qualified already for next year's tournament.
According to Sofascore, the standings were shaken up further when Mali staged a 3-0 home win over Comoros, who have fallen from second in the qualification group to fourth place overnight. Mali is now in third position and sits four points behind Ghana.
The situation makes Group I one of the most intriguing in CAF qualifying, with teams separated by fine margins and no side able to afford complacency.
Ghana’s draw against Chad, combined with Madagascar’s commanding performance, should serve as a wake-up call for the Black Stars as they look to secure their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Coach Addo’s men will need to tighten up defensively and players such as Mohammed Kudus would have to be more clinical in front of goal as the qualifiers reach a decisive stage.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars remain favourites to top the group, but Madagascar’s rise, Mali's resurgence, and the ever-present Comoros mean Ghana must win the next games to avoid any last-minute disappointment.
Former player backs Ghana for WC qualification
Speaking exclusively to YEN.com.gh, former Ghana youth international, Fuseini Adams, expressed confidence that the Black Stars will still qualify.
However, he stressed that they needed to improve their performance against Mali on Monday, with home win set to be decisive for their aspirations.
"Ghana have the quality to make it through, but against a team like Mali we can’t afford another sloppy display, the players must raise their game," Adams said.
Meanwhile, Egypt, DR Congo, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Gabon, Algeria, and Tunisia top the other respective CAF qualification groups.
Mohammed Kudus' goal drought for Ghana concerning
YEN.com.gh earlier took a critical look at Mohammed Kudus' goal drought in the 2025/26 season, for both club and country.
The 24-year-old Tottenham newcomer has impressed in his first four competitive games but is yet to find the back of the net.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
