World cup hopes alive
–As Black Stars beat CAR in 7 goals thriller with
By Elvis DARKO, Accra
The Black Stars overcame a first-half scare to defeat the Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday, moving to the top of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group with a 4-3 victory.
This win elevates Ghana to the top of Group I, with nine points from four games.
Madagascar follows in second place with six points from three games, while Comoros also has six points from three games.
Mali sits fourth with four points from three games, and the Central African Republic has four points from four games.
Chad remains at the bottom with no points.
Ghana’s triumph over CAR marks their second consecutive win, following a 2-1 victory over Mali in Bamako.
This defeat is CAR’s first in five games.
The Black Stars started the match strongly, earning an early penalty which Jordan Ayew converted to give Ghana a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.
However, CAR’s Louis Mafouta equalized five minutes later, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by AS Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu.
Both teams had opportunities but failed to capitalize, keeping the match balanced.
Four minutes before halftime, Mafouta again broke through the Black Stars’ defense, scoring to give CAR a 2-1 lead at the break.
The second half began with high intensity.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Gideon Mensah’s cross found the head of Ayew, who scored the equalizer after Kamaldeen Sulemana had missed some good chances in the game.
Two minutes later, Leicester City loanee Abdul Fatawu Issahaku saw his deflected shot find the back of the net in the 62nd minute to make it 3-2 to the Black Stars.
Ayew scrambled home the fourth goal completed his hat-trick shortly and made it 4-2 to Ghana with 21 minutes left to play.
Later in the game, Mafouta scored a free-kick to make it 4-3, concluding a pulsating match in which both Ayew and Mafouta scored hat-tricks.
Despite a late surge from CAR, the Black Stars held on to secure the victory.
This win propels Ghana to the top of Group I, and they now await the results of other matches to confirm their standing after four rounds.
This victory marks a significant step for the Black Stars in their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, showcasing their fighting spirit and determination to succeed on the international stage.
The ever-reliable supporters in Kumasi filled the Baba Yara Stadium and cheered the Black Stars on until the final whistle. At a point, football fans were worried the Black Stars might not win the game.
Key players like Captain Thomas Teye Partey and Mohammed Kudus did not perform to the expectations of Ghanaians, who are excited about their performances in their foreign clubs. Loopholes in the defense and midfield were obvious to all who watched the game.
The technical team and the players have a lot of work to do to close these gaps.
