2026 WCQ: Ghana tears Chad into shreds to top Group I

Ghana resumed their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on a good note with a big 5-0 win over Chad at the fully packed Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening in match day five.

It was an easy walk in the park for the four-time FIFA World Cup participants who dominated the encounter right from the blast of the whistle with debutant goalkeeper Benjamin Asare of Hearts of Oak largely on holiday. Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo shot the four-time African champions into the lead in under two minutes against bottom placed Chad.

The Black Stars increased the tempo of the game then on, making surging runs with Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams and Ernest Nuamah upfront but missing the goal by whiskers. The visitors, nicknamed Sao of Chad, did not really threaten the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarterfinalists despite trying hard to attack Ghana’s right side of defence manned by Samsunspor defender Kingsley Schindler.

The relentless effort by the Black Stars paid off when Athletic Bilbao attacker Inaki Williams headed in the second goal of the evening following a goalmouth battle in the 31st minute.

The struggling Chad team found themselves in trouble when Williams was brought down in their area for a penalty kick for the Black Stars. Captain and Leicester City forward, Jordan Ayew made no mistake in scoring from the spot to put the game at 3-0 on the 36th minute. Ghana retained the score line moving into the half time break.

The second half was largely for the Black Stars once again with plenty of ball possession resulting into a corner kick. Olympique Lyon forward Ernest Nuamah floated an in swinger which saw Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu head home Ghana’s fourth goal on the evening. The excitement rose to a crescendo leading to an invasion by an ecstatic supporter.

Olympique Lyon attacker, Ernest Nuamah registered his name on the score sheet when he planted home Ghana’s fifth goal from Jordan Ayew’s perfect assist in the goal area on the 68th minutes mark.

Ghana now go top of Group I on 12 points from five games, two better than their next opponent, Madagascar and three ahead of Comoros. Mali are on 8 points after a 3-0 win over Central Africa Republic on Thursday. Ghana will next host Madagascar on Monday, March 24 in Morocco.

Group I Table (5 matches played)

• The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• Four of the nine group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative in the intercontinental qualifying playoff.