Mohammed Kudus scored early in the second half to the crowd in Accra into elation as Ghana secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Comoros on Sunday. The win confirms the Black Stars as the fifth African nation to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, joining Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The moment came in the 47th minute when the Tottenham Hotspur forward tapped in a pass from Thomas Partey to break the deadlock. While the goal sealed the victory, Ghana's qualification was ultimately guaranteed regardless of their result, as their closest Group I rival, Madagascar, was simultaneously defeated 4-1 by Mali. Ghana finished the campaign on top of the group with 25 points.
The victory also served as redemption for Ghana against a Comoros side that has proved to be a difficult opponent in recent years. The island nation famously eliminated the Black Stars from the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and had beaten them earlier in this World Cup qualifying campaign. This will be Ghana’s fifth appearance at a World Cup, with their best performance being a run to the quarterfinals in 2010.
Elsewhere in the African qualifiers, already-qualified Egypt maintained their unbeaten run in Group A with a 1-0 win against Guinea-Bissau, despite resting captain Mohamed Salah. Burkina Faso finished second in that group after a 3-1 victory over Ethiopia and, along with Niger who beat Zambia 1-0 in Group E, will be hoping to secure a spot in next month’s playoffs for the four best group runners-up.
The qualification falls back on coach Otto Addo, who had been under pressure following the team's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. By securing a spot on football's biggest stage, he has more than made up for it, as they begin preparations for their second consecutive World Cup appearance.