Ghana’s Black Stars emerged victorious against the Central African Republic (CAR) in a high-scoring 4-3 encounter in an electrifying 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
The match, characterized by stellar performances from both sides, saw Jordan Ayew and Louis Mafouta each netting hat-tricks for their respective teams.
Celebrating his 120th appearance, Ayew continued his rich vein of form by setting the tone early with a coolly converted penalty.
However, CAR’s Mafouta quickly responded, exploiting Ghana’s defensive vulnerabilities to score twice before the break, silencing the home crowd and giving the Wild Beasts a surprising 2-1 lead.
The Black Stars came out firing in the second half. Ayew equalized with a well-placed header, and Issahaku Fatawu then put Ghana ahead with a deflected shot. Ayew completed his hat-trick in a goal-line scramble, extending Ghana’s lead to 4-2 and taking his personal tally beyond the century mark.
But CAR’s Mafouta wasn’t done. He scored a spectacular free-kick to complete his own hat-trick, setting up a tense finale. The striker nearly forced a draw with another long-range effort, but Ghana’s goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi made a crucial save to secure the win.
Jordan’s hat-trick came as a response to a ceremony held in his honor, as he was celebrated before the game in a poignant moment by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for reaching the significant milestone of 100 goals. Ayew, who had scored against Mali in an earlier qualifier to achieve this feat, underscored his importance to the national team with this remarkable achievement.
The victory is particularly sweet for Ayew, whose pre-match honor and subsequent hat-trick showcase his enduring value to Ghanaian football. It’s also a significant result for Ghana in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
They now top their group with 9 points from 4 games, ahead of Madagascar and Comoros (both on 6 points from 3 games), Mali (4 points from 3 games), CAR (4 points from 4 games), and Chad (0 points from 3 games).
This win extends Ghana’s impressive record in Kumasi, where they’ve won 18 and drawn 6 of their 24 games. For CAR, it’s their first defeat in five matches, while Ghana celebrates their second consecutive victory after a 2-1 win against Mali in Bamako.
As the qualifying campaign progresses, Ghana’s resilience and attacking prowess, epitomized by Ayew’s performance and milestone, make them strong contenders for a World Cup berth.
Meanwhile, CAR’s spirited display, led by Mafouta’s brilliance, suggests they’ll be no pushovers in the remaining matches.
