Ghana crush Central African Republic to inch closer to 2026 World Cup

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

In a commanding display on Wednesday, Ghana delivered a brutal 5-0 thrashing of the Central African Republic (CAR) in their latest 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, taking a major step toward clinching the Group I top spot.

The match, held at the Stade d’Honneur in Morocco, saw the Black Stars dominate from the start, capsulizing their superiority in all phases of play.

They broke the deadlock in the 20th minute via Mohammed Salisu, who powered home a header off a Mohammed Kudus corner. From there, the floodgates opened.

Just after the break, Thomas Partey pushed the lead to 2-0 with a composed finish. Minutes later, Alexander Djiku headed in Ghana’s third. A clinical strike from Jordan Ayew followed, and Kamaldeen Sulemana sealed the emphatic victory with his first senior international goal in the 87th minute.

This emphatic result keeps Ghana firmly atop Group I, now three points clear of Madagascar, with a far superior goal difference and only one match remaining. A draw in their final fixture will suffice to confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Coach Otto Addo’s side showed tactical discipline, fluid movement, and ruthless finishing. Meanwhile, CAR struggled to contain Ghana’s attacking waves and offered little in response.

Ghana will next return home to face Comoros in Accra to cap off their qualification campaign. If they maintain their form, the Black Stars are poised to return to football’s grandest stage.