Ghana moved to within a point of securing their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Central African Republic in Morocco, setting up a showdown against Comoros on Sunday.
Defender Salisu headed the Stars on in the 20th minute before four second-half goals helped Otto Addo’s side maintain their three-point advantage at the top of Group I, leaving them needing just a draw from their final qualifier to seal qualification.
The Black Stars dominated from the outset, though they were initially wasteful in front of goal. Mohammed Salisu should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he met Mohammed Kudus’ corner, but the Monaco centre-back headed wide from a promising position.
Five minutes later, Salisu made amends. Once again finding space from a Kudus corner, he powered a header beyond the CAR goalkeeper to give Ghana a deserved lead.
Kwasi Sibo came close to his first international goal when he drove forward, only to be denied by the CAR defence, whilst Alexander Djiku saw an effort from close range sail too high before the interval.
The second half brought a flurry of goals as Ghana put the match beyond doubt. Thomas Partey doubled the advantage with a composed finish shortly after the restart, before Djiku atoned for his earlier miss by heading home Ghana’s third.
Jordan Ayew added a fourth with a clinical strike, and substitute Kamaldeen Sulemana completed the rout in the 87th minute, scoring his first senior goal for his country.
Ghana now boast a superior goal difference over second-placed Madagascar and will confirm their World Cup berth if they avoid defeat when they host Comoros in their final group fixture in Accra.
