By: Kwame Bediako
Ghana’s Black Stars produced a commanding performance, thrashing Central African Republic 5-0 on match day 9 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Stade d’Honneur de Mekne in Morocco. With this comprehensive victory, Ghana now leads Group I with 22 points, putting them on the brink of securing a World Cup spot.
The scoring began in the 20th minute when defender Mohammed Salisu powered home a header from a precise cross by Kudus to give Ghana an early lead. The Black Stars maintained aggressive pressure throughout the first half, creating several scoring opportunities, but the half ended 1-0 in favor of Ghana after Salisu’s opener proved decisive.
Ghana extended their advantage soon after halftime as midfielder Thomas Partey calmly finished after a quality build-up involving Jordan Ayew in the 52nd minute. The momentum only increased as defender Alexander Djiku made it 3-0 in the 69th minute with a composed finish from another exceptional Jordan Ayew assist.
Just two minutes later, Jordan Ayew himself scored a stunning goal off Gideon Mensah’s delivery to make it 4-0. In the final moments of the match, forward Kamaldeen Sulemana sealed the dominant win by converting a perfectly placed pass from Joseph Paintsil for his first international goal in the 87th minute.
This 5-0 victory puts Ghana firmly in control of the group standings with one final qualifier remaining. Ghana needs only a draw in their upcoming home match against Comoros on Sunday, October 12, 2035 to seal their place at the 2026 World Cup.
The Black Stars’ five-star performance has sent a strong message that they will be a formidable contender on football’s biggest stage.
