By Nadia Ntiamoah
As Ghana’s Black Stars prepare to continue their campaign for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, team captain Jordan Ayew has sounded a note of caution ahead of their September double-header against Chad and Mali, describing the upcoming matches as potentially the most difficult phase of the qualifiers.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Ghana Football Association’s media team, Ayew acknowledged the progress made so far but insisted that the job is far from over.
“We are in a good position, yes, but qualification isn’t sealed. The matches ahead, especially against Chad and Mali, won’t be easy at all,” he said.
Ghana currently tops their qualification group following a critical set of victories in March 2025 — first against Chad and then a hard-fought win over Madagascar.
These back-to-back victories brought renewed hope and optimism to the team and their supporters after a rocky start to the campaign in 2024.
The wins propelled the Black Stars to the summit of their group, putting them in pole position to book a ticket to North America for next year’s World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ayew credited the team’s strong mentality and commitment as key reasons behind their recent form.
“We fought hard for those points. It shows the kind of resilience and team spirit we have developed. But we must remain focused,” he said.
History and Rivalry
Ghana’s senior national team, four-time African champions, have a storied history in World Cup qualification campaigns, having appeared in four of the last five tournaments.
However, recent years have seen growing competition across the continent, with previously lower-ranked teams such as Comoros, Central African Republic, and Chad showing dramatic improvements in squad depth and tactical organization.
Ghana’s next opponents, Chad and Mali, present unique challenges. Chad may be considered underdogs on paper, but Ayew and the technical team are not taking any chances, especially as Ghana will be travelling to face them on away soil — a factor known to influence match dynamics in African football.
Mali, on the other hand, has always been a fierce competitor with a physical and disciplined style of play, and they have players scattered across top European leagues.
What’s at Stake
Ghana’s next two games — away to Chad and home to Mali — form Matchdays 7 and 8 of the qualifying series.
Victory in both fixtures would all but guarantee Ghana’s automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup, with only two remaining matches thereafter — against the Central African Republic and Comoros — which could then be less pressurized if Ghana secures maximum points in September.
“Every point matters at this stage,” Ayew emphasized. “The dream is to go back to the World Cup. We missed out in 2018 and want to redeem ourselves with a strong showing in 2026.”
