Mohammed Kudus once again rose to the occasion as Ghana sealed their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Comoros in Accra on Sunday.
The Tottenham star delivered the crucial goal just two minutes into the second half, reacting quickest inside the box to tap home after a scramble left the Comoros defence in disarray. His strike sent the 40,000-capacity Accra Sports Stadium into wild celebration, as the Black Stars finally avenged their past defeats to the island nation.
Ghana had dominated possession from the start, but despite their control, they struggled to find a way past Comoros goalkeeper Adel Anzimati-Aboudou in the first half. Kudus’ early second-half goal proved to be the breakthrough they had been searching for all night.
This victory meant more than just qualification. It was a statement — a redemption story. Comoros had shocked Ghana at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and again during the second round of World Cup qualifiers. But this time, the Black Stars refused to be humbled.
With 25 points from 10 matches, Ghana finished top of Group I, ahead of Madagascar (19 points) and Mali (17 points). The qualification marks Ghana’s fifth appearance at the World Cup, their best run being in 2010 when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Uruguay in a dramatic penalty shootout.
The result also eased pressure on head coach Otto Addo, who had been heavily criticized after Ghana’s disappointing AFCON qualifying campaign earlier this year. Sunday’s win was a convincing response and a reminder that the Black Stars are still a force on the continent.
The 2026 World Cup — to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — will feature 48 teams for the first time in history, giving more African nations a shot on the global stage.
Elsewhere, Egypt edged Guinea-Bissau 1–0 in Cairo without Mohamed Salah, thanks to an early strike from Mohamed Hamdy. In Ndola, Niger stunned Zambia 1–0, with Daniel Sosah capitalizing on a goalkeeper error to secure victory.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles safely arrived in Uyo after a tense journey from South Africa, where they defeated Lesotho. Their flight had earlier been forced to make an emergency landing in Angola due to a cracked windshield. Team media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed that all players and officials are safe and preparing for their decisive qualifier against Benin Republic on Tuesday.
Nigeria currently sit third in Group C, three points behind leaders Benin and one behind South Africa. A win in Uyo — coupled with a South African slip against Rwanda — could see the Super Eagles soar back to the top.
In another development, South Sudan coach Nicolas Dupuis has been handed a 15-day suspension following his team’s 5–0 loss to Senegal, with the football federation set to review his future later this month.
