Ghana has officially punched its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the fifth African nation to qualify after edging Comoros 1-0 in their final Group I qualifier in Accra on Sunday.
Mohammed Kudus delivered the decisive moment early in the second half, tapping in from close range after a well-placed cross by Thomas Partey. The goal secured top spot in the group with 25 points—six ahead of Madagascar, who saw their own qualification hopes crushed by a 4-1 defeat to Mali in Bamako.
Kudus, who plays his club football at Tottenham Hotspur, was the difference-maker for a Ghana side that had failed to register a shot on target in a sluggish first half. Despite boasting attacking options like Antoine Semenyo—who has scored six goals in seven Premier League appearances for Bournemouth this season—and Leicester City’s Jordan Ayew, the Black Stars lacked fluency in the final third until the breakthrough.
This marks Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance in the past six tournaments, and their first qualification since 2014. It also positions them as the only sub-Saharan African team to have qualified so far, joining North African giants Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. According to FIFA, the expanded 2026 tournament will see nine African nations qualify automatically, plus one via intercontinental playoff.
Ghana's win carried extra weight given their recent struggles against Comoros. The island nation famously eliminated Ghana from the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and beat them again earlier in this qualifying cycle. A draw would have sufficed for Ghana to advance, but the win erased any doubt—and partly atoned for the team’s failure to reach the upcoming AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
The result also ended Madagascar’s outside chance of qualifying, as their loss to Mali sealed their fate. With a goal difference already eight behind Ghana's, they needed a miracle. Goals from Lassine Sinayoko (2), Nene Dorgeles, and Gaoussou Diarra ensured there would be none.
Elsewhere in Africa, Egypt—already qualified—wrapped up an unbeaten Group A campaign with a 1-0 home win over Guinea-Bissau, courtesy of an early strike from left-back Mohamed Hamdy. Mohamed Salah had helped seal qualification days earlier with a 3-0 away win against Djibouti.
Burkina Faso, who beat Ethiopia 2-1 thanks to a brace from Pierre Landy Kabore, are now hoping their points total will be enough to claim one of the four best runners-up spots. Niger is also in contention after finishing their Group E campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Zambia.
According to CAF's qualification format, Africa’s nine group winners will automatically qualify, while the four best runners-up will battle in playoffs for a potential tenth spot through FIFA's intercontinental playoff path.
The final qualifiers will wrap up Tuesday. Cape Verde, on the brink of a historic first-ever World Cup appearance, can clinch their place with a win over Eswatini on Monday.
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