2026 WCQ: Ghana coach Otto Addo, Jordan Ayew react ahead of Chad encounter

Ghana national team captain Jordan Ayew has admitted that there is pressure ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.

The Black Stars will first host Chad on Friday before traveling to Morocco as guests of Madagascar three days later in match days five and six respectively.

With mixed results recorded in the other games where Madagascar nailed Central Africa by 4-1 and Mali beating Comoros with a 3-0 margin, Ghana will go top of Group I with a win.

The urge to claim all three points and increase a chance of qualifying for the global football showpiece comes with massive pressure and the Leicester City attacker admits to that.

“There’s pressure playing for Ghana. We can’t stop people from criticism, it’s part of the game. When the results are not there, the manager and the players get the backlash.

However, the former Crystal Palace striker believes that the four time African champions have quality materials to qualify for the World Cup in Mexico, USA and Canada.

“With the quality we have, we need to qualify for the World Cup. Hopefully, from these two games, we can show a good image of ourselves and turn things around,” Ayew said.

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has said that Chad will come as a tough customer and he calls for support ahead of the game.

“I know Chad is not a top team but believe me it’s not going to be easy. We need all the support we can get.” Otto Addo said.

Ghana now have nine points from four games and seated second, one point behind Madagascar with Comoros on same points from five games in third.

Mali’s 3-0 win over Comoros still keeps them in 4th on 8 points with Central Africa on four and Chad yet to record a win. The winner of the group earns an automatic qualification for the World Cup next year.