Kudus fires Ghana past Comoros to seal 2026 World Cup spot

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final qualifying match on Sunday night.

The decisive encounter, played before a roaring home crowd, saw the Black Stars struggle to break down a resilient Comoros defence throughout the first half.

Despite dominating possession, Ghana’s attacking efforts were repeatedly frustrated by the visitors’ compact formation and disciplined defending.

However, just two minutes into the second half, star midfielder Mohammed Kudus produced the moment that mattered.

The West Ham United playmaker latched onto a clever through ball from Thomas Partey and slotted home past goalkeeper Youssouf Bourhane to hand Ghana the crucial breakthrough in the 47th minute.

The goal lifted the atmosphere in the stadium and allowed Ghana to dictate the tempo, though Comoros continued to threaten on the counter.

Coach Otto Addo made tactical substitutions to consolidate the lead, introducing Joseph Paintsil, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Collins Bonsu Baah to maintain energy and defensive balance.

Comoros, who had earlier stunned several higher-ranked teams in the qualifiers, pushed for a late equaliser, but Ghana’s backline, marshalled by Alexander Djiku and Daniel Amartey, held firm until the final whistle.

The narrow victory was enough to confirm Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

It marks the Black Stars’ return to football’s biggest stage, further reaffirming their status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.

With this result, Ghana finish top of their qualification group I with 25 points, six ahead of Madagascar and will now begin preparations for the global showpiece, where fans will once again expect them to emulate or even surpass their famous 2010 quarter-final run in South Africa.