Ghana’s hopes of securing an early ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dealt a setback on Thursday afternoon after the Black Stars were held to a 1
Ghana’s hopes of securing an early ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dealt a setback on Thursday afternoon after the Black Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Chad in a tense qualifier at the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby in N’Djamena.
The four-time African champions went into the encounter as overwhelming favourites, having thrashed Chad 5-0 in the reverse fixture in Accra earlier in the campaign.
With Otto Addo’s men sitting at the top of Group I, expectations were high that Ghana would consolidate its lead with a commanding performance.
The Black Stars started brightly, with Mohammed Kudus once again at the heart of Ghana’s creativity.
His dazzling footwork on the right flank in the 17th minute left his marker stranded before delivering a low cross that was calmly converted by Jordan Ayew.
The Crystal Palace forward’s goal was his sixth of the qualifiers, underlining his importance to Ghana’s attack.
Despite controlling large portions of the game, Ghana failed to convert its dominance into more goals. Inaccurate finishing and resilient defending from the Chadians ensured the visitors could not extend their lead.
For the home side, under newly appointed Swiss coach Raoul Savoy, the encounter was an opportunity to rebuild confidence following their heavy defeat in Accra.
Chad fielded a restructured team, with Savoy placing emphasis on discipline and compact defending.
That approach frustrated Ghana and kept the hosts within touching distance throughout the match.
The breakthrough for Chad came dramatically in the 89th minute.
Young Africans SC forward Ecua Celestin, who had been lively throughout, collected the ball just outside the penalty area and unleashed a stunning strike that sailed beyond goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.
The equaliser sparked jubilant celebrations from the home crowd, a stark contrast to the stunned silence among Ghanaian fans.
In stoppage time, Ghana pressed desperately for a winner, but the Chadian defence held firm to secure a hard-fought point.
The result leaves Ghana still at the summit of Group I, but with the qualification race far from settled as the campaign moves into its decisive stages.
The draw also raises fresh questions about the Black Stars’ ability to close out matches, particularly against lower-ranked opposition.
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