Ghana’s hopes of extending their lead at the top of Group I in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers suffered a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Chad in N’Djamena on Thursday.
The Black Stars went into the encounter needing all three points to strengthen their position at the summit, where they led with 15 points from six matches.
The opening ten minutes saw Chad make an energetic start, driving at the four-time African champions, but they lacked the cutting edge to convert their pressure into goals in front of their passionate home supporters.
Ghana drew first blood in the 16th minute when Mohammed Kudus weaved past two defenders before squaring the ball for Jordan Ayew, who tapped home with ease.
Just four minutes later, the visitors nearly doubled their advantage after Antoine Semenyo whipped in a cross, but right-back Caleb Yirenkyi squandered the chance.
The Black Stars maintained control for much of the half, with Ayew later picking out Semenyo in space. However, the Bournemouth forward blazed his effort high over the bar as half-time approached.
The second period followed a similar pattern, with Ghana looking sharper yet struggling to kill off the contest. Chad, however, nearly restored parity in the 50th minute, only for Ghana’s backline to stand firm.
In the 67th minute, Kudus came close to extending the lead, curling narrowly wide from a Yirenkyi pass inside the penalty area.
But with time running out, Chad snatched a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute. Young Africans striker Celestin Ecua surged forward on a solo run before unleashing a strike that deflected off defender Jerome Opoku, wrong-footing goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.
Despite the late disappointment, Ghana remain top of Group I with 16 points from seven matches, four points clear of Comoros, who face Mali in their Matchday 7 fixture. The Black Stars will next host Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, 8 September.
Group I Standings
Ghana – 16 points (7 matches)
Comoros – 12 points (6 matches)
Madagascar – 10 points (6 matches)
Mali – 9 points (6 matches)
Central African Republic – 5 points (6 matches)
Chad – 1 point (7 matches)
