Ghana take no prisoners in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers! If anyone thought they wouldn’t recover from the embarrassing 2025 AFCON qualifiers – in which they failed to book the ticket for Morocco – they were very wrong. Tonight, Chad felt it on their skin, getting thrashed in Accra 5-0.The Black Stars sealed the deal already before the break, being 3-0 up. Yet, they refused to take their foot off the gas, netting twice more in the second half.Interestingly, all five scorers were different – Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew (from the spot), Mohammed Salisu, and Ernest Nuamah. Thanks to this victory, Ghana took over the top of Group I, dethroning Madagascar.
𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘! 
Ghana 
-
Chad 
A dominant display to secure all three points in the #FIFAWCQ 
#BlackStars— Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 21, 2025 The clash between the second-placed team in Group I in the African WC qualifiers, Ghana, and the sorry last-placed Chad was over even before it began. The Black Stars broke the deadlock after only two minutes behind Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
GOAL: SemenyoGhana 1-0 Chadpic.twitter.com/raRTjulVVc— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 21, 2025 Even though Otto Addo’s men completely dominated the game, their “scoring break” lasted until the 32nd minute when Inaki Williams doubled their lead, while Jordan Ayew converted a penalty to make it 3-0 only five minutes later. Interestingly, each of Ghana’s attempts on target in the first half found the net. GOAL: Inaki WilliamsGhana 2-0 Chadpic.twitter.com/ZktiSpGSlX— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 21, 2025 Although they could have relaxed a bit considering the convincing lead, the Black Stars made it 4-0 in the 57th minute over the defender Mohammed Salisu, probably aware that goal difference could play an essential role at the end of the qualifiers. Thrashing of Chad continued 12 minutes later when Lyon forward Ernest Nuamah bagged fifth goal for Ghana and his fourth in the national team’s jersey. GOAL: Ernest NuamahGhana 5-0 Chadpic.twitter.com/NJPeHWKX5f— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 21, 2025 This victory launched Ghana to the top of Group I, two points clear from Madagascar, which the Black Stars will face in three days in a derby of the group and a direct battle for the direct qualification to the World Cup.They’re finally awake! Super Victor for Super Eagles’ easy triumphUnlike Ghana, Ivory Coast had slightly more troubles at Stade d’Honneur in Meknes, facing Burundi, although nothing hinted at it, as the Elephants broke the deadlock after only 16 minutes thanks to fantastic Evann Guessand. Yet, Emerse Fae’s men couldn’t net the second – which would probably secure their victory much earlier – but still noted a vital win – 1-0. GOAL: Evann GuessandBurundi 0-1 Côte d’Ivoirepic.twitter.com/fcbVTKAsna— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 21, 2025 The Elephants were clearly far from their usual level, but luckily for them, Burundi barely attacked, failing to make an attempt on target. On the other hand, despite outstanding offensive weapons embodied in Sebastian Haller, Simon Adingra, and Jean-Philippe Krasso, Ivory Coast’s attempts to score the second were futile.Regardless, the three points are definitely all that matter in the end, as well as the fact that the Ivorians overtook the top spot in Group F from Gabon and now have one-point advantage. Yet, they’ll have to be much better in three days against the Gambia at home or their World Cup plans could be spoiled.2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – AFRICARound 5WednesdayCAR – Madagascar 1-4 (1-2)/Gambor 9 – Raveloson 17,21, Randrianantenaina 49, Rafanomezantsoa 89/Eswatini – CameroonLiberia – Tunisia 0-1 (0-1)/Mestouri 4/ThursdayMozambique – Uganda 3-1 (3-1)/Pepo 3, 16, Ratifo 45+3 – Shaban 7/Cape Verde – Mauritius 1-0 (0-0)/Semedo 84/Malawi – Namibia 0-1 (0-1)/Tijueza 40/Sierra Leone – Guinea B. 3-1 (1-0)/Bundu 19, Kamara Mu. 61, Turay 90+6 – Monteiro 68/Zimbabwe – Benin 2-2 (1-2)/Munetsi 44, Musona 59 – Mounie 12, Dodo 35/Gabon – Seychelles 3-0 (2-0)/Allevinah 3, Bouanga 30, 63/Gambia – Kenya 3-3 (0-0)/Barrow 55, 84, Minteh 61 – Olunga 69 pen, Bajaber 75, Wilson 90+6/Libya – Angola 1-1 (0-0)/Ellafi 75 – Fredy 90+3/FridayComoros – Mali 0-3 (0-1)/Nene 20, Doumbia 55, 63/Botswana – Algeria 1-3 (0-1)/Kopelang 70 – Gouiri 44, Amoura 52, 74/Equatorial Guinea – Sao Tome 2-0 (2-0)/Nsue 14, Salvador 17/Burkina Faso – Djibouti 4-1 (2-0)/Tiendrebeogo 12, Traore B. 33, Zougrana 47, Traore L. 67 – Akinbinu 88 pen/DR Congo – South Sudan 1-0 (1-0)/Bongonda 45+3/Rwanda – Nigeria 0-2 (0-2)/Osimhen 11, 45+3/S.Africa – Lesotho 2-0 (0-0)/Mofokeng 60, Adams 64/Burundi – Ivory Coast 0-1 (0-1)/Guessand 16/Ghana – Chad 5-0 (3-0)/Semenyo 2, Williams 32, Ayew 37 pen, Salisu 57, Nuamah 69/SaturdayEthiopia – Egypt 0-0 IN PROGRESSGuinea – Somalia 0-0 IN PROGRESS00:30: (22.0) Niger (10.5) Morocco (1.10)***odds are subject to change***
