The Black Stars shook off a first-half scare to beat Les Fauves of Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday to go top of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group.
Jordan Ayew’s hat trick gave Ghana a 4-3 win in their fourth game in the qualifiers for the Canada-Mexico-USA World Cup in 2026.
After a sixth-minute penalty by the Crystal Palace forward, the Central Africans raised the tempo of the game, getting two goals to put the vociferous spectators at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to sleep.
Louis Mafouta scored those two goals to give his side a 2-1 advantage at the break.
Clearly, the Black Stars were found in sixes and sevens at the back with goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi at the mercy of the Amiens striker.
But the 2010 World Cup finalists emerged from the dugout for the next 45 minutes a more rejuvenated side as Jordan headed in a Gideon Mensah cross in the 60th minute to level the score.
Two minutes later, Leicester City striker Fatawu Issahaku, the only other player to have scored in the seven-goal thriller, squared in a ball after being set up by captain Thomas Partey to put the Stars back in the lead.
Ayew completed a hat trick by scoring Ghana’s fourth in the 69th minute when he clashed with substitute Antoine Semenyo on the goal line to tap in a Kudus Mohammed cross.
With the Black Stars 4-2 in the lead, the fans raised their voices, defying the rains to enjoy the play of the four-time African champions.
But a powerful freekick by Mafouta scaled over the wall to beat Ati-Zigi in post.
This moved the Wild Beasts within a goal of getting a point from the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
But after six minutes of time added on, Libyan referee Ahmed Abdulrazg brought proceedings to an end.
The win sends Ghana to the top of Group I for the first time in the qualifiers with nine points.
Comoros and Madagascar are joint second with Mali in fourth place. Central African Republic and Chad are fifth and sixth respectively.
It’s a wrap for #MD3 & #MD4.@GhanaBlackstars sit on top!#OnuaSports pic.twitter.com/nhv1hGqU6E
— #OnuaSports (@OnuaSports) June 10, 2024
The next round of qualifiers will be played in March, 2025.
Ghana will play Chad at home before travelling to Madagascar a week later.
