Ghana’s hopes of extending their lead at the top of Group I were dashed by a dramatic late equaliser from Chad, resulting in a 1-1 draw in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
The Black Stars appeared poised to claim all three points after Jordan Ayew opened the scoring with a close-range finish in the first half. However, in a stunning turnaround, Chad’s Celestin Ecua struck an 89th-minute equaliser, launching a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area that deflected past Ghanaian goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, sending the home fans in N’Djamena into raptures.
Despite dominating large portions of the match and having opportunities to extend their lead—most notably through Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus, both of whom failed to find the target—Ghana had to settle for a draw.
The Black Stars remain in a strong position to qualify for back-to-back World Cup finals, holding a four-point advantage at the top of Group I. However, this lead is at risk of being reduced later on Thursday, as third-placed Madagascar is set to face the Central African Republic, and second-placed Comoros will take on Mali in away matches.
With only the group winners guaranteed a spot in next year’s finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Ghana will be keen to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
