Ghana’s Black Stars faced a high-stakes encounter on March 21, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium, taking on Chad in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With crucial victories by Madagascar and Mali earlier, Ghana found themselves in a do-or-die situation to keep their World Cup hopes alive. The passionate home crowd rallied behind Otto Addo’s squad, urging them to snatch all three points from a Chad team eager to play spoilers.
Before the match, the standings in Group I painted a grim picture for Ghana, needing not only a victory but a significant performance. Madagascar led the group, while Comoros was also in contention, leaving Ghana in a precarious position. A surprising turn of events occurred just prior to Ghana's match; Comoros suffered a 3-0 defeat to Mali, effectively reopening the competition in the group.
With a victory, Ghana would ascend to the top of the group. However, the Black Stars, with only nine points, were under pressure as they had a single defeat against Comoros in November 2023. The team's recent form had brought some optimism, with three wins out of four matches in the qualifiers. But the six-game winless streak in competitive fixtures weighed heavily on the players and coaching staff alike.
On the other side, Chad faced an uphill battle. They stood at the bottom of Group I, having lost all four of their matches so far, with a dire goal difference of -8 after only scoring once while conceding nine. Coach Gardia was eager to extract any hint of a revival from his squad, which had largely failed to deliver results.
Fans were not only worried about the game itself but also faced notable challenges in obtaining tickets. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation had taken over ticket distributions, which led to frustrations among supporters accustomed to e-ticketing. Reports indicated that even complimentary tickets, typically set aside for officials and sponsors, became difficult to secure under the new arrangement.
This costly ticketing confusion threatened to overshadow the critical fixture where Ghana had to secure a win to bolster their qualification bid against Chad, before facing the group leaders Madagascar just days later. With Madagascar’s lead and a potential slip from Ghana, the stakes could not be set any higher.
As the match began, the Black Stars entered the pitch with a strong starting eleven featuring the return of Thomas Partey after a lengthy injury layoff. The team was bolstered with experienced players including captain Jordan Ayew, promising that the home side would dominate. Chad's lineup, comprised mostly of domestic players, aimed to capitalize on any sign of panic from the Ghanaian side.
Matchday lived up to the expectations as Ghana consistently applied pressure on the Chad defense from the whistle. In what became a comprehensive display, they swiftly established dominance, leading to their first goal through Antoine Semenyo.
Ghana did not relent—subsequent goals from Iñaki Williams, a penalty by Jordan Ayew, and a header from Mohammed Salisu followed the first goal, steadily racking up a remarkable 5-0 scoreline by the time the final whistle blew. The match was highlighted by not only the score but by a strong team performance showcasing depth and skill.
Renowned Ghanaian sports journalist Owuraku Ampofo shared his expectations prior to the game, stating, "I’m positive Ghana will beat Chad," buoyed by the history of dominance that the Black Stars have had over the Chadian squad. Despite the positivity, caution echoed from critics like Michael Oti Adjei, who worried about underperforming key players. However, the performance echoed a notable turning point for Ghana as they broke a 9-month winless streak.
It was particularly heartening for fans to see new players also making an impact on the field, with debutant Benjamin Asare earning praise for his performance in goal. With young talents exposed to international competition, the game served as a valuable lesson in resilience and teamwork for Ghana.
Ghana's significant victory over Chad reverberated through their fans and provided a sense of renewed optimism as they prepared to face Madagascar in their next challenge. The showing on March 21 not only provided a glimmer of hope for World Cup qualification efforts but represented a bold statement from a team looking to reclaim its former glory.
As analysts assess Ghana's performance, the focus is directed towards sustaining this momentum moving forward. With players like Thomas Partey rejoining the squad, the Black Stars look poised to make a charge at their World Cup ambitions while also rebuilding a team that once ruled African football.
Whether or not that charge will lead to success in their upcoming game against Madagascar remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the Black Stars have reaffirmed their capability, and as far as fans are concerned, this could be the turning point they’ve desperately awaited.
