The emphatic win, one of Ghana’s most convincing performances under Otto Addo, means the Black Stars need a point in their final game against Comoros to secure qualification to the Mundial.
Ghana began the contest with intent and precision, and it didn’t take long for the Black Stars to draw first blood.
In the 21st minute, a teasing in-swinging corner from Mohammed Kudus found Mohammed Salisu, whose far-post header crept beyond the goalkeeper into the net.
From there, Ghana kept pressing. Corners and free kicks rained into the box, and at one point Kwasi Sibo threatened with a header that was blocked as his rebound effort just flashed wide.
The CAR defence scrambled and cleared repeatedly, but the Black Stars’ confidence grew as the half progressed. Still, the first half ended 1–0 in Ghana’s favour.
After the break, Ghana ratcheted up the pressure and within seven minutes the cushion was doubled. Jordan Ayew threaded a clever through-ball into the path of Thomas Partey, who broke clear and hammered his effort into the net with authority.
The scoring spree continued. Not long after, Jordan was again the provider, this time swinging in a pinpoint cross that found Alexander Djiku, who rose well and headed home to make it 3-0.
Twenty minutes from full time, Jordan Ayew finally got the goal his industrious performance demanded. A cross from Gideon Mensah, taking a slight deflection, served up the chance. Jordan volleyed crisply past the keeper into the net, making it 4-0.
The final blow came in the 87th minute when substitute Kamaldeen Sulemana slid in from close range to tap home, scoring his first goal for Ghana to wrap up an emphatic 5–0 win.
Ghana shine at set pieces, again
Since the March international break, Ghana have now scored eight goals from set pieces, with the majority coming from corners. This is no accident as Otto Addo’s staff have placed deliberate emphasis on exploiting dead-ball opportunities, and central to that is Gregory De Grauwe, brought in specifically for set-piece coaching.
De Grauwe is a Belgian video analyst and set-piece specialist who currently serves as Chief Video Analyst and Set-Piece Coach for the Ghana national team. Before joining the Black Stars, he worked in Belgium with clubs such as Sint-Truiden, Beerschot, Zulte Waregem, and currently works with KV Kortrijk.
A UEFA B-licensed coach, De Grauwe combines video scouting with practical on-field set-piece routines, focusing on opponent weaknesses and structured delivery patterns.
Since his appointment, Ghana’s transformation in dead-ball situations has been distinctive. In the 3–0 away win over Madagascar in March, Ghana scored twice from set plays.
In crucial fixtures like the narrow win over Mali, it was Djiku’s header from a corner that made the difference, proving that in tight qualifiers, mastery of set pieces can tilt the scales.
Under De Grauwe, Ghana have mixed up their approach; alternating between in-swingers, short routines, and disguised long throws, making them harder to defend. In international football, where training time is limited, such marginal gains are invaluable.
Ghana has one foot at next World Cup
The 5-0 victory not only maintains Ghana’s three-point lead at the top of Group I, but also boosts their goal difference to +16, a full eight goals better than Madagascar’s.
With goal difference serving as the tiebreaker, it would take an extraordinary eight-goal swing in favour of Madagascar for Ghana to be overtaken should they lose their final game - an extremely unlikely scenario.
Madagascar face a daunting trip away to Mali, while Ghana host Comoros in Accra on Sunday. With momentum and confidence all on their side, Otto Addo’s men now have one foot firmly planted in the 2026 World Cup.
