Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, will be chasing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Stade D’Honneur de Meknes in Morocco.
Otto Addo’s men currently sit top of Group I with a three-point lead, knowing that a win against CAR will be enough to secure their place at the global showpiece. Ghana have dropped just five points in the qualifiers so far—losing 1-0 to Comoros and drawing 1-1 with Chad—but remain firmly in control of their destiny.
CAR, on the other hand, lie fifth in the group standings with only five points from eight matches and are mathematically out of the race for qualification.
The Black Stars enter Wednesday’s crucial encounter buoyed by a 1-0 win over Mali and a 1-1 draw with Chad in September. In contrast, CAR’s qualification campaign suffered back-to-back defeats to Madagascar and Comoros in their last two outings.
Their previous meeting produced a thriller in Kumasi, where Ghana came from behind to edge CAR 4-3, with Jordan Ayew netting a sensational hat-trick at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Ghana are targeting their fifth World Cup appearance since 2006, having only missed the 2018 edition.
Their closest challengers, Madagascar, will also be in action against Comoros on Wednesday—a fixture that could directly impact the Black Stars’ qualification chances.
Otto Addo’s squad looks strong heading into the decisive tie. Twenty players took part in the team’s second training session in Casablanca before their departure for Meknes.
New call-ups Kojo Peprah Oppong of OGC Nice and Medeama SC’s Prince Owusu have joined the 24-man squad, while key players Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Alidu Seidu return from long-term injuries.
For the visitors, coach Raoul Savoy has handed a debut call-up to Eugène Ganazoui of AS Douanes, with several returning names including Noah Ato-Zandanga (FC Wil), Brad Pirioua (Portogruaro), and Vénuste Baboula (NK Bravo) among others.
Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew remains Ghana’s most influential player in the qualifiers, having been directly involved in 11 goals—six goals and five assists—in eight appearances. Despite the fine club form of Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Fatawu Issahaku, none has matched Ayew’s consistency in the national setup.
A win against CAR will automatically seal Ghana’s qualification if Madagascar fail to defeat Comoros.
Even a draw in the other group game, combined with a Black Stars victory, will be enough to send Otto Addo’s side to North America.
Kick-off is at 16:00 GMT, with millions of Ghanaian fans expected to tune in, hopeful of witnessing the Black Stars take another proud step toward their fifth World Cup appearance.
