Johannesburg, 25 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Ghana solidified their position at the top of Group I in the African 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a commanding 3-0 victory over Madagascar on Monday. Premier League stars Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus were on target, with Partey scoring twice and Kudus adding a third.
Captain Jordan Ayew played a pivotal role, assisting all three goals to ensure a dominant performance for the Black Stars. The victory extends Ghana’s lead to five points over second-placed Madagascar, strengthening their bid for a fifth World Cup appearance.
Adding to Ghana’s joy, Mali—the highest-ranked team in the group—unexpectedly dropped points in a goalless draw against the Central African Republic in Casablanca, Morocco.
Group I Standings After Matchday 5
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ghana | 15 |
| 2nd | Madagascar | 10 |
| 3rd | Mali | 9 |
| 4th | Comoros | 9 |
| 5th | Central African Republic | 5 |
| 6th | Chad | 0 |
The final fixture of the group’s sixth matchday will see Comoros host Chad on Tuesday. A victory for Comoros would bring them within three points of Ghana, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
Match Summary
- Thomas Partey’s Brilliance: The Arsenal midfielder netted both his goals with precise headers, first converting an Ayew free-kick in the 11th minute, followed by another header from an Ayew corner in the 53rd minute.
- Kudus’ Clinical Finish: West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus sealed the win in the 58th minute, racing onto an Ayew through-ball and slotting past Luxembourg-based goalkeeper Geordan Dupire.
- Madagascar’s Struggles: Following their emphatic 4-1 victory over the Central African Republic in their first match under new coach Corentin Martins, Madagascar were expected to put up a stronger fight. However, they failed to test Ghana’s defence in Al Hoceima, Morocco—one of 21 African nations lacking FIFA-approved stadiums.
This result marks Ghana’s fifth win in six qualifiers, providing a much-needed boost following a disappointing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where they finished bottom of their group.
Other African World Cup Qualifiers
Ivory Coast Edge Past The Gambia
While Ghana cruised to victory, reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast had a much tougher outing, narrowly defeating The Gambia 1-0 in Abidjan. Borussia Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller, who netted the winner in the Cup of Nations final against Nigeria, scored the only goal in the 15th minute.
| Group F Standings |
| 1st – Ivory Coast (16 pts) |
| 2nd – Gabon (15 pts) |
| 3rd – Burundi (7 pts) |
| 4th – Kenya (6 pts) |
| 5th – The Gambia (4 pts) |
| 6th – Seychelles (0 pts) |
Tunisia’s Late Surge Secures Victory
Tunisia maintained their lead in Group H with a late 2-0 victory over 10-man Malawi. Seifeddine Jaziri opened the scoring in the 86th minute with a well-placed header, while Elias Achouri sealed the win from the penalty spot in added time.
Malawi’s resilience was commendable, especially after Lloyd Aaron was sent off in the 65th minute. However, their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Richard Mbulu missed a penalty.
Burkina Faso Close in on Egypt
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Lassina Traoré starred in Burkina Faso’s 2-1 win over Guinea-Bissau, keeping them within touching distance of Group A leaders Egypt.
| Group A Standings |
| 1st – Egypt (13 pts) |
| 2nd – Burkina Faso (11 pts) |
| 3rd – Sierra Leone (8 pts) |
Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, have dominated African football with a record seven continental titles but have only qualified for the World Cup twice. They face Sierra Leone on Tuesday in a crucial fixture.
Ethiopia Run Riot Against Djibouti
After struggling in front of goal in their previous qualifiers, Ethiopia put on a stunning display with a 6-1 thrashing of Djibouti. Bereket Desta and Abubeker Nassir each netted hat-tricks in El Jadida, marking the team’s most dominant performance in the campaign.