The Black Stars have taken a commanding lead in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Africa after an emphatic 3-0 win over Madagascar.
A brace by Arsenal’s Thomas Teye Partey and an excellent finish from his English Premier League teammate Mohammed Kudus ensured that Ghana made a perfect start to 2025.
The team had gone eight matches without a win, missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to Angola and Sudan.
Following that ignominy of failing to win any of the six AFCON qualifiers, losing the final game at home against Niger, 2025 presented a new breath of life for the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists.
Changes to the Management Committee of the team and the rejig of the technical team, which saw the appointment of German Winfried Schäfer as Technical Advisor, immediately paid off in the first game of 2025, against Chad.
Monday’s clash, however, was made difficult by the Bareas’ 4-1 thrashing of Central African Republic on Matchday 5.
Just six minutes into the game at the Stade Mimoun Al Arsi in Al Hoceima, defender Mohammed Salisu narrowly missed the inside of the goal post as he connected to a free kick by captain Jordan Ayew.
Five minutes later, a similar kick was well connected by Partey, who won an aerial duel to open the scoring.
After giving Ghana the lead, the former Atletico Madrid star headed home the lead-doubling goal to make the run more comfortable for the Stars.
This was in the 54th minute.
Exactly five minutes later, a beautiful through ball from Leicester City’s Ayew found a dashing Kudus, who laboured to reach the ball first to send it past the Malagasy goalie.
The score remained the same as the Black Stars’ three points gave hjnn five more points than their opponents in the group.
The next matches are scheduled to be played in September.
