Inside Ghana’s road to the World Cup

Ghana’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup was anything but easy, with the Black Stars facing several obstacles before eventually booking their place at the global tournament.

While the Black Stars ultimately secured top spot in CAF Group I and booked their place in North America, the qualification campaign was marked by coaching uncertainty, fan frustration, injury concerns, difficult away trips, and persistent questions about playing conditions.

The campaign began with Otto Addo in charge after he was reappointed as head coach in March 2024 following Chris Hughton’s departure. Although Addo successfully guided Ghana to World Cup qualification, he faced heavy criticism from supporters during parts of his second spell. The Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, leading to growing dissatisfaction among fans and increasing pressure on the coaching staff.

Away matches also presented challenges. Several qualifiers were played under difficult conditions, including long travel schedules and poor playing surfaces. Addo publicly pointed to substandard pitch conditions during some away fixtures as a factor affecting performances.

Injuries to key players disrupted the team’s rhythm at various stages of the campaign. Nevertheless, Ghana’s squad depth helped them remain competitive throughout the qualifiers. Captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo and other senior players delivered important performances when the team needed results. In the game against the Central African Republic, skipper Jordan Ayew scored and also assisted on Alexander Djiku’s and Thomas Partey’s goals.

Among Ghana’s notable results were a 3-0 victory over Madagascar, a 5-0 win against Chad, a crucial 1-0 victory over Comoros that sealed qualification, and an emphatic 5-0 away triumph over the Central African Republic. The Black Stars also earned valuable victories against Mali and Madagascar during the campaign.

Group I consisted of Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Comoros, the Central African Republic, and Chad. Ghana finished first with 25 points from 10 matches, recording eight wins, one draw, and one defeat. Madagascar placed second with 19 points, followed by Mali with 18, Comoros with 15, the Central African Republic with eight, and Chad with one point.

Despite reaching the World Cup, turbulence continued after qualification. Poor results in friendly matches and lingering concerns over performances led to Addo’s departure just months before the tournament. Ghana’s qualification campaign, therefore, stands as a story of resilience, one in which the Black Stars overcame criticism, adversity, and expectations to secure a place at their fifth FIFA World Cup.