Black Stars Thrash CAR, Boost World Cup Hopes

Ghana is tantalizingly close to securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after thrashing the Central African Republic 5-0 in their penultimate Group I qualifier on Wednesday night in Morocco.

Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, have been scoring goals with remarkable efficiency from set pieces...

Ghana is one step closer to qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a resounding 5-0 victory over the Central African Republic in their penultimate Group I qualifier. The match, held in Meknes, Morocco, showcased Ghana's dominance, with goals from Mohammed Salisu, Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku, Jordan Ayew, and Kamaldeen Sulemana contributing to the impressive win.

The Black Stars now lead Group I with 22 points, and a single point from their final game against Comoros will secure their spot at the World Cup. 

What's needed for Ghana to qualify

Win or Draw: Ghana needs only a win or draw against Comoros to qualify for the World Cup.

Loss: If Ghana loses, Madagascar would need to win against Mali with a significant goal difference to overtake Ghana.

Group I Standings

• Ghana: 22 points (GD: +16)
• Madagascar: 19 points (GD: +8)
• Mali: 15 points
• Comoros: 15 points

The Black Stars' impressive performance has put them in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Their final match against Comoros will determine their fate.

Ghana kicked off the match with purpose and precision, and their efforts paid off early. In the 21st minute, Mohammed Kudus delivered a perfectly weighted in-swinging corner that found its way to Mohammed Salisu, who headed the ball beyond the goalkeeper's reach, securing an early lead for the Black Stars.

Ghana began the contest with intent and precision, and it didn’t take long for the Black Stars to draw first blood. 

✅ 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 — 5️⃣ Goals, 3️⃣ Points. A commanding performance from the #BlackStars! 🖤🌟

🇨🇫 CAR 0️⃣-5️⃣ Ghana 🇬🇭

⚽️ Goals from Salisu, Partey, Djiku, Jordan Ayew and Kamaldeen Sulemana seal a big win in Meknès! 🔥#FIFAWCQ pic.twitter.com/M6LA5qyYkJ

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) October 8, 2025

In the 21st minute, a teasing in-swinging corner from Mohammed Kudus found Mohammed Salisu, whose far-post header crept beyond the goalkeeper into the net.

Ghana's scoring spree continued as Jordan Ayew delivered a pinpoint cross that Alexander Djiku headed home, making it 3-0. Later, Gideon Mensah's cross, slightly deflected, presented Jordan Ayew with a volley opportunity, and he crisply scored the fourth goal. The win was sealed in the 87th minute when Kamaldeen Sulemana tapped home from close range, scoring his first goal for Ghana and wrapping up a 5-0 victory.

The goals were scored by:

• Mohammed Salisu
• Thomas Partey
• -Alexander Djiku
• Jordan Ayew
• Kamaldeen Sulemana

Ghana's Set Piece Success

Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, have been scoring goals with remarkable efficiency from set pieces, with eight goals since the March international break, most of which have come from corners. This success can be attributed to the team's deliberate focus on exploiting dead-ball opportunities under the guidance of coach Otto Addo and set-piece specialist Gregory De Grauwe.

Gregory De Grauwe is a Belgian video analyst and set-piece specialist serving as the Chief Video Analyst and Set-Piece Coach for Ghana's national team. He brings extensive experience from working with Belgian clubs like Sint-Truiden, Beerschot, Zulte Waregem, and KV Kortrijk.

De Grauwe holds a UEFA B license and combines video analysis with practical on-field training. He focuses on identifying opponent weaknesses and developing structured delivery patterns to exploit them. His expertise has significantly contributed to Ghana's success in set-piece situations.

Since his appointment, Ghana’s transformation in dead-ball situations has been distinctive. In the 3–0 away win over Madagascar in March, Ghana scored twice from set plays. 

In crucial fixtures like the narrow win over Mali, it was Djiku’s header from a corner that made the difference, proving that in tight qualifiers, mastery of set pieces can tilt the scales.

Under De Grauwe, Ghana have mixed up their approach; alternating between in-swingers, short routines, and disguised long throws, making them harder to defend. In international football, where training time is limited, such marginal gains are invaluable.

Ghana has one foot at next World Cup

Ghana is tantalizingly close to securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Their impressive 5-0 victory has not only solidified their three-point lead at the top of Group I but also given them a significant goal difference advantage. With a +16 goal difference, Ghana is in a commanding position, making it extremely challenging for Madagascar to catch up.

With goal difference serving as the tiebreaker, it would take an extraordinary eight-goal swing in favour of Madagascar for Ghana to be overtaken should they lose their final game - an extremely unlikely scenario.

Madagascar face a daunting trip away to Mali, while Ghana host Comoros in Accra on Sunday. With momentum and confidence all on their side, Otto Addo’s men now have one foot firmly planted in the 2026 World Cup.